I believe, at some point, every good person has drempt of the perfect heist, the perfect getaway--because for most good people life is tedious, boring, dull--and somehow we know there is a more exciting life to be led, though we are too afraid of losing our souls. Since most of us can only look, and be envious of a certain life, of certain means, that are so far out of the realm of possibility--we know a heist or winning lottery ticket is our only hope of ever experiencing true paradise on earth, as far as wealth is concerned.

But we can't do it of course. It's a fantasy.

For Colton Harris-Moore, it was reality.

A hundred years ago, the Governor might have given this guy a pardon, they would have written dime-novels about him, and they would have written songs about him that most ordinary people like me or you would know the words to. I wonder if people will name their sons "Colton" now... Who knows.

Sure, life should be about being a good person.  You can lead a life as an altar boy, and get alot of satisfaction from giving of yourself, and live a life of no regrets. But a honest human being can also admit that they are weak, and have had moments in their life where they wanted to just run.  Rob a bank, seize a ship, or run from the law.  And be free, in a different meaning of the word. The only difference between us and him--is that he actually did it.

People ask me on Facebook, "How on earth can you admire a criminal?"  "Why not dream of earning a living the right way, or getting rich?" 

Well, good point.  That is alot of people's dreams. But we all find out sooner or later that everybody doesn't get the same opportunities, have the same support systems, nor see the straight and narrow path to success. And those that do don't necessarily make the right choices, get picked when they should, nor are prepared at the moment that their moment comes. So I don't judge. 

I can only speak for myself. 

I am a polite person. I obey laws. I say "yes ma'am" and "Yes sir." Seriously. But I am not perfect, and neither are you. I have made mistakes, and been lucky or blessed enough not to have had them determine my freedom on this earth. Others have made similar mistakes, and not been so lucky or blessed. There is good in all and bad in all. It's just we make our own decisions, and some decisions are made on us. But in all this, it serves no one to judge, since we all share this same burden.

So, I smile at Colton's picture.  Why?

Because, in a convoluted way, he is my revenge. It makes me sick they are going after this kid, when BP gets away with murder, AIG and the banks get bailed out, and get away with murder--and they really screwed up this country, me included. I have a dog in that fight, because I lost my job, my woman lost hers, my friends lost theirs--because of other people's greed and exploitation of the system.

Colton, on the other hand, didn't screw us. He screwed a bunch of rich people, who have no idea what life is like... I have no sympathy for them, right or wrong. They have everything, and alot of us are poor as dirt.   

No one bails us out.

Yes, you may say these are just issues, not really related to Colton. But you can also see how people with no hope or faith in the system can smile about this kid sticking it to the system, and sticking it to them, the rich--because in our experience, it's usually the other way around.

Nobody, when they're a kid, dreams of becoming a responsible adult; raising kids, paying off a mortgage, and working through the trials of a relationship. No one dreams of going to work for $10 at a job you hate, or--even worse--being unemployed and broke, selling your soul to buy McDonalds for your kids and pay your child support. No one dreams of consequences--only breaking free and escaping.

No, most kids dream of adventure, excitement, of travel and mystery. Dreams of living on a whim, of taking off, and living free.

Whenever I see someone running, being adventurous, daring, even to the point of what Colton has done in the past few years, something inside me can't help but smile and wish that he makes it.

And unlike the major corporations, banks, and companies that have ruined our country, our way of life--armies of authorities searched and swarmed upon this young bandit, until he finally was cornered, by the full weight and authority of the United States Government.  There, the kid knew it had come to an end, and put a gun to his head.  But they will have their trial, and their prosecution, and their vengeance.  We, on the other hand, will not. 

Some people will tell this story as one about a Kid vs. Keystone cops, who outsmarted the authorities.  Others will see a story about the consequences of growing up without role models, and being a ward of the state.  Still more will see a kid who had no chance from the start, no power, no means--and fooled everyone with his audacious brilliance.  Yet most, no doubt, will only see a cocky juvenile delinquent, taking out his tantrums on responsible victims. 

If anyone has ever seen the movie "The legend of Billie Jean" (1985) which is a great movie, you will understand why Colton is so loved, and why he has achieved almost mythic status, though technically he is a "criminal."  As wikipedia says about Billie Jean, a character on the run from the law, "...(she) becomes a teen icon - a symbol of youth empowerment, and the evidence of the injustices adults are capable of." That about sums up Colton too.

I don't like Colton because he's a criminal; there's plenty of them around. I admire him because he came into this world with nothing, was handed shit + nothing, and said basically, "Fuck this." And carved out his own adventure, fuck the law, fuck the rules, and fuck his chances. You can't help but admire how he lived freely, evaded capture for so long, and in such spectacular and mythic fashion. Bravo, Colton.

So, the calls keep coming up on Twitter and Facebook, of "Free Colton" and scenarios and plots to help him escape from his cell.  But the truth is it is not likely he will be pardoned; the jail will not be stormed by torchlight.  No one will come to this boy's rescue. 

He will be prosecuted.  And he will no-doubt pay for his crimes, despite the almost 90,000 fans he has on Facebook, bothered enough to say something that will fall on deaf ears, no doubt.

What bothers me isn't Colton Harris-Moore. What bothers me is the CEO pay-raises, golden parachutes, and weekend junkets at the expense of all of us. I have been unemployed for almost two years, all because of other people's luxury, greed, and exploitation of the American system. Colton Harris-Moore didn't screw us.... They did, and they wear suits and live in mansions in the Hamptons. If you ask me, they are the true criminals, and if America spends time and manpower to prosecute a guy like Colton, but does nothing to protect us from them who really destroyed this country, then America is shitting out of it's mouth, and eating with it's ass.