VoxOp

“I think he deserves at least 150 years. You can’t get away with swindling billions of dollars and not be punished. Madoff’s lawyer believes he should serve 12 years. I’m going to side with the government on this one.’’

RYAN
law.rightpundits.com

“The big question that remains unanswered in my mind is this: Why does the U.S. sustain the conditions for new Madoffs to emerge? The U.S. allows fund managers to produce account statements for clients - and, as I posted, unless those account statements are produced by a completely independent organization there is nothing to prevent new Madoffs from popping up in the future. . .

Whether Madoff gets 12 years or 150, justice will not be served until we change the basic conditions that enabled him to fleece his tens of thousands of victims. Otherwise, it’s just a matter of time before a new Madoff surfaces to fleece our children or grandchildren. . .’’

PETER COHAN
www.dailyfinance.com

“While the lengthy sentence seems to have pleased some of Madoff’s victims - applause broke out in the courtroom when Judge Chin announced the sentence - it’s certainly not the longest handed down in recent years to white-collar criminals, records show.

“In 2000, a New York businessman named Sholam Weiss received an 845-year sentence for a fraud scheme that took $450 million from an insurance company. Mr. Weiss is currently serving time in a high-security federal prison in northeast Pennsylvania. In 2008, Norman Schmidt was sentenced to serve 330 years in federal prison for his role in a fraudulent ‘high yield investment scheme.’ Mr. Schmidt is currently serving time in a medium-security federal prison in Texas.’’

ASHBY JONES
Blogs.wsj.com

NO TOLL HIKES
“If someone can explain to me why perfectly good roads are getting repaved and perfectly good highway signs are getting replaced while taxes are being raised, then perhaps you have a shot of convincing me that the hikes are necessary. But I doubt it.

“We’re all tired of the incessant rain that has been falling on the Commonwealth for weeks - but there is always hope in knowing that there is sunshine in our future. . . at least with regards to the weather forecast. As far as the forecast for the economy of the Commonwealth - I see dreary days well into our future. Remind me again, why do I bother to stay in Massachusetts?’’

AARON MARGOLIS
hubpolitics.com

“Live free or pay the Hampton tolls.

“While tolls on the Massachusetts Turnpike won’t go up (well, for now, anyway), you’ll pay more to get to Maine starting next week: New Hampshire is increasing the Hampton tolls by 33 percent, allegedly to pay for construction of two full-speed transponder lanes there.’’

ADAM
www.universalhub.com