Should the fine have to fit the crime?

Planet Money discusses the Excessive Fines Clause of the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution through the story of Ken Jouppi, an Alaskan bush pilot who lost his plane due to bootlegging. The hosts, Jeff Guo and Sarah Gonzalez, explore how the clause, intended to prevent excessive economic punishments, has been interpreted and applied by courts, particularly in the context of the War on Drugs. The podcast examines a Supreme Court case, *United States v. Bajakajian*, which established limits on fines and forfeitures, and how lower courts have struggled to consistently apply this principle. It further investigates the debate around whether fines should fit the crime and the potential implications for state and local governments that rely on fines and forfeitures for revenue.