"More to lose"
The idea that certain professionals have "more to lose" from providing a false vouch is outdated
Whenever we talk about how we’re widening the list of who can vouch when using VouchSafe, the response goes one of two ways.
The first, and most frequent, is my personal favourite. It goes something along the lines of:
“Brilliant! Yes! Times are changing, people don’t know their GP, or local airline pilot these days.”
“People shouldn’t have to know someone in a traditionally middle class profession to prove who they are.”
The second reply is unsurprisingly in the realm of:
“People in those professions are the ones who are allowed to vouch because they have more to lose if they provide a false vouch”.
They have more to lose.
A stockbroker has more to lose than a hairdresser.
More to lose than your neighbour. More to lose than your local food bank volunteer.
More of what to lose? A reputation? A higher paid job? A social life?
What are we saying, as a society, if we think that only people in certain, often middle class professions, have something to lose if they fraudulently vouch for someone’s identity?
Deliberately providing a false vouch can result in a fine.
Arguably, if you’ve been in a secure and relatively well paid role (which I know is not the case for every profession on the original ‘who can provide a vouch’ list, but is for many of them), then quietly facing a fine is going to have far less of an impact on you.
Without getting too far into the academics of criminology, the notion that a fine disproportionately punishes those with less economic security is well established.
It’s why many European countries use a “day fine” approach; where what you have to pay and the time you have to pay it in is in part decided by an individual’s financial circumstances.
The point that I’m trying to get across is this: being in a certain profession doesn’t mean you are inherently more trustworthy, or that you will suffer the consequences of your actions more acutely than anyone else. Harold Shipman was a doctor, after all.
We’re done with the idea that a person’s credibility and worth is defined solely by their profession or status in society.
We’re building a world where everyone knows someone who can vouch for them. We all have touch-points, we all know people. There’s no need to force people to find their nearest Justice of the Peace any more.
It’s worth reiterating that we aren’t opening it up so that absolutely anyone you know can vouch for you when you’re using VouchSafe. But, it is only your immediate family and people you share an address with that won’t be eligible.
After all, the person I’ve probably lied for most is my brother - he was always home before 10pm, Mum, promise...