But the purpose was familiar and menacing: to punish citizens whose views the committee chairman dislikes.
It also insisted that United States officials "should investigate, prosecute and punish" American citizens who are guilty of torturing people overseas.
Until several years ago, some cantons punished citizens for not voting (with a fine equivalent to $3).
Gun control restrictions punish honest, law-abiding citizens who want to protect themselves and their families.
It will punish ordinary citizens, incite justifiable outrage at the Kremlin and risk inflaming the Soviet public against the real reforms needed.
This has the additional advantage of preserving liberty: during droughts it would be less necessary to punish citizens for specific water uses.
I think that this method is punishing honest citizens.
In North Korea, the songbun system of ascribed status is used to punish citizens with collaborating relatives or ancestors.
And they may actually punish citizens who save fuel the old-fashioned way - by using less of it, with smaller, lighter and more efficient cars.