An affluent Keller teen who killed four people while driving drunk and stoned on Valium has become the latest object of outrage. Ethan Couch, 16 at the time of the crash, was handed 10 years of probation, which will include a stint at a pricey rehab paid for by his parents. Much of the indignation has been focused on the defense expert's absurd "affluenza" testimony. In short, it was argued that Couch's upbringing had molded a complete stranger to consequence.

The news prompted a rash of editorials, and expressions of outrage from both gubernatorial candidates.

It's debatable what influence this defense actually had on the judge. More likely, it was his parents' resources, their ability to access quality treatment for their son at no cost to the state, that produced a sentence that seems so incongruous to the death he caused.