Ethan Couch, also known as "Affluenza Teen" has been back in the headlines after his return to the U.S. from Mexico. Couch and his mother fled to Mexico after he missed one of his probation meetings. He was sentenced to rehab and 10 years of probation after he crashed into a broken down car while he had been under the influence of alcohol and marijuana in June 2013. The crash killed the four people working on the car and severely injured two of his friends, one who is now paralyzed, who were in the car with him. During his hearing, a psychologist said the crash could have been caused by Couch’s "affluenza," meaning that his family’s wealth caused him to be reckless and not understand what he was doing.
We all make mistakes in our lives, but, generally, we try and own up to them. It seems like in this country the wealthy seem to have an excuse for their mistakes. When thinking about Couch’s situation, I do not believe that wealth kept him from understanding what he was doing. If this was any other middle-class person, they would have gotten the highest sentence. I know that if I was as wealthy as the Couch family, I would hope that my parents would raise me the same way that they already have, to be a compassionate and independent person who owns up to her mistakes.
The last time I checked, the legal drinking age is still 21 in the United States, and that applies to all citizens. Also, I don’t believe that marijuana use is legal either. So right there he had already broken two laws and he decided it was a good idea for him to drive while under the influence, even though his friends told him it was a bad idea. I cannot imagine what the families of the four deceased people felt when no justice was brought upon Couch for their loved ones. No matter what his parents taught him, he still broke many laws and killed four people.
One would think since he was given such a light sentence, that he would maybe try to follow through with it, but no. Couch managed to make everyone who defended him, and the judge, look foolish whenever he went out partying again. The video of him surfaced online, and his family thought it was best to flee the country? Any person with a working frontal lobe would have the decency to own up to it, or, at least, try to defend themselves.
The flee to Mexico was just perfect. They stayed in a nice area and enjoyed their time. Guess they were lacking some common sense when they ordered pizza from a cell phone that the police had been tracking. Couch and his mother were then brought back to the United States to face another court hearing.
A family member of one of the victims says that Couch has never even apologized. To me, that is not surprising. He probably doesn’t feel like it is his problem or his fault. Although he pleaded guilty in the first case, that does not mean he actually felt guilty about what he had done. Even the mother of the paralyzed friend feels that her son got a worse punishment than Couch and that he should have to do more than probation.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 28 people die every day from drunk driving crashes. All of those people who were driving under the influence and were able to walk away from the crash are punished for their actions. No matter who a person is they should not be allowed to walk away from killing anyone. Couch killed four people and has never had to actually own up to his actions. The number one thing teens with "affluenza" need is a reality check, and if that involves jail time, so be it. Life is not fair to anyone, even the wealthy, so why do they not have to deal with it just as much as a regular person?
