However these judicial penalties are a tip of the iceberg of extra-judicial penalties to which the US society is subjected. Virtually every incorporated non-governmental entity, from a local library to condominium associations, utility companies, telecoms, credit card companies, inscos, banks etc. have the power of imposing penalties on physical persons (which cannot be reciprocated i.e. a physical person cannot impose a penalty on a corporate entity.) These penalties are typically financial or in some cases denial of services - bug they are extra-judicial. These penalties are imposed at the sole discretion of the respective agencies with no due process or appeal. They may not be as onerous as a jail term, but they are so widely spread that virtually noone can escape them.
I wonder if any other country achieved this level of extra-judicial penalization of the entire society. Any thoughts?
Wojtek