Maybe we should be hanged when we jump a red light or try to evade tax. And the question here is who doesnt.
A politician is a beggar. He makes a crore in his costituency of 10 Lakh. Or at the national level, he may fudge a 100 crore from our 'janta' of 120 crore. All in all, all bribes amount to no more than a 1000 crore, thats Rs 10 per person. Thats beggary, not 'LOOT'. This is why ppl are so tolerant of politicians, but intolerant of thieves who steal say a LAKH from one particular person's hard earned saving.
There has to be balance in quantum of punishment awarded. How much time do you waste in office ? After all time is money and when you waste time, you waste national resources! AND MONEY! So w are all criminals!