Death penalty speech
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Before i go any further, i want to make it clear that i'm not commenting on the situation in Illinois, which is most certainly fucked. I rather think George Ryan should have commuted the sentences earlier in his term, rather than appearing to run out on the problem, but that is beside the point. KaЯl wrote: The consequences are not the same. No. They are not. In fact, i'm having a bit of difficulty thinking of many similarities between imprisonment and execution at all. One takes part of a life, the other takes all of it, once it's gone, it's gone, and there is no way to give it back. But execution cannot be stopped half-way, whereas a life sentence can. Execution has at least the appeal of relevance to the crime of murder - "eye for an eye" and all that. Given it's severity and finality, it should *not* be taken lightly - but i firmly believe in some cases it is appropriate, and in the end we must trust the justice system to use it wisely. Imprisonment, however, is the Wonder Drug of punishments - everything from forgetting to pay a speeding ticket to mass murder can get you imprisoned. We've built prisons of every shape and size: women's prisons, juvy prisons, SuperMax prisons, low risk prisons, high risk prisons... I just drove back from Cañon City, CO, a place surrounded by prisons containing everyone from Charles Manson to a local pastor convicted of writing bad checks. Does it help? Does it hurt? Is it cost-effective, or are we bleeding like a stuck pig from all these prisoners? Who cares? Lock 'em up, and ignore them - justice is served... right? A friend of mine was imprisoned for three years on drug charges - by her own account, it saved her life, as it removed her from destructive influences and provided her with counseling to help her deal with the problems causing her addictions. Certainly, this is an admirable result! Is this our goal also with murderers? Rapists? Thieves? Are these crimes even necessarily related to one another? Is there any good reason why we should pretend they should be punished in the same way? As a programmer, this system has a strange appeal to me - a uniform method of punishment, with classifications based on the type and severity of the crime. Why, how easy is that to codify! And if someone complains about the State being "soft on crime", just revise the codes to up sentences by a few years! But then, if people were simple machines we wouldn't be having all these problems in th
About jails, we are following the same way, building 23(:~ ) new prisons. I always thought that anytime a school is built a prison closes. I'm stunt to see how it's easy to go to jail in some US states. Since from here they are totally crazy, quiet fascists. Jails are useful of course, but are just the proof the society/system has failed somewhere. They are only expedient, not the solution to the problem. But I'm sure anybody agrees on this :-D Shog9 wrote: care must be taken also to avoid using the hammer when the axe is what is needed. IMO, evolving is not replacing axe by lethal injections. Cleary the second one. it's an opinion, not an analysis, and I [edit]can[/edit] respect the one of a honorable man. And no, I'm not a dick-sucker (don't one what this one will give translated like this in english)
Angels banished from heaven have no choice but to become demons Cowboy Bebop
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About jails, we are following the same way, building 23(:~ ) new prisons. I always thought that anytime a school is built a prison closes. I'm stunt to see how it's easy to go to jail in some US states. Since from here they are totally crazy, quiet fascists. Jails are useful of course, but are just the proof the society/system has failed somewhere. They are only expedient, not the solution to the problem. But I'm sure anybody agrees on this :-D Shog9 wrote: care must be taken also to avoid using the hammer when the axe is what is needed. IMO, evolving is not replacing axe by lethal injections. Cleary the second one. it's an opinion, not an analysis, and I [edit]can[/edit] respect the one of a honorable man. And no, I'm not a dick-sucker (don't one what this one will give translated like this in english)
Angels banished from heaven have no choice but to become demons Cowboy Bebop
KaЯl wrote: IMO, evolving is not replacing axe by lethal injections. I rather hope punishment will evolve, though suspect the reverse is as likely. But i'd rather see the need for it removed.
KaЯl wrote: Cleary the second one. Good pick. :)
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Shog9 The siren sings a lonely song - of all the wants and hungers The lust of love a brute desire - the ledge of life goes under
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Chris Losinger wrote: if only every politician could do one good thing while they're in office... What if one of the guys on death row raped and killed your wife or daughter? Then what? Are you even man enough to get really pissed off about it to the point of wanting to kill him? Or would you just let it be. Sure, not everyone who's killed is guilty, but there are a hell of a lot more that are. Nothing's perfect. We should abandon death row as it is now and let the families hurt by these people slowly torture them to death. Jeremy Falcon Imputek Excrement escapes everyone - even elders.
Jeremy Falcon wrote: What if one of the guys on death row raped and killed your wife or daughter? Then what? Then you should not under ANY circumstances be able to have ANY say in their punishment.
David Wulff http://www.davidwulff.co.uk
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Chris Losinger wrote: if only every politician could do one good thing while they're in office... Yes, but you also have to examine why he did this. I don't know anything about the guy but apparently he's been mired in scandal throughout his time on office and some have suggested that this is a ploy to make his name in history and improve his chances in court. That's not really as important as this: there's been a lot of talk on other discussion boards about what a brave and courageous move this was. Bollocks. Let a politician do this kind of thing at the *start* of their term and then you can talk about bravery and courage. Whether or not you agree with having a death penalty, granting a blanket reprieve and totally bypassing the judicial process is pretty appalling. You may think that the judicial process is flawed, and well it might be, but the solution is to try fix it, not this.
he he he. I like it in the kitchen! - Marc Clifton (on taking the heat when being flamed) Awasu v0.4a[^]: A free RSS reader with support for Code Project.
Taka Muraoka wrote: but the solution is to try fix it, not this. and until it's fixed, maybe they should stop killing people who might not actually be guilty. -c
I'm not the droid you're looking for.
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Chris Losinger wrote: if only every politician could do one good thing while they're in office... What if one of the guys on death row raped and killed your wife or daughter? Then what? Are you even man enough to get really pissed off about it to the point of wanting to kill him? Or would you just let it be. Sure, not everyone who's killed is guilty, but there are a hell of a lot more that are. Nothing's perfect. We should abandon death row as it is now and let the families hurt by these people slowly torture them to death. Jeremy Falcon Imputek Excrement escapes everyone - even elders.
Jeremy Falcon wrote: Are you even man enough to get really pissed off about it to the point of wanting to kill him? Perhaps he is man enough to understand that revenge only lowers you to the same level as the killer..... Jeremy Falcon wrote: Sure, not everyone who's killed is guilty, but there are a hell of a lot more that are. Nothing's perfect. If you're ever on death row and innocent I wonder if you'll be as cavalier about the death of innocent people. Jeremy Falcon wrote: We should abandon death row as it is now and let the families hurt by these people slowly torture them to death. I don't deny my rage and pain if someone were to, for example, rape and kill my daughter, but I *know* that I would recognise that there is no healing and no personal benefit in vengeance. A person who did such a thing should lose the right to be part of society, but I would not desire their death, because if I did, I would be the same as them. Christian No offense, but I don't really want to encourage the creation of another VB developer. - Larry Antram 22 Oct 2002
C# will attract all comers, where VB is for IT Journalists and managers - Michael P Butler 05-12-2002
Again, you can screw up a C/C++ program just as easily as a VB program. OK, maybe not as easily, but it's certainly doable. - Jamie Nordmeyer - 15-Nov-2002 -
Chris Losinger wrote: if only every politician could do one good thing while they're in office... What if one of the guys on death row raped and killed your wife or daughter? Then what? Are you even man enough to get really pissed off about it to the point of wanting to kill him? Or would you just let it be. Sure, not everyone who's killed is guilty, but there are a hell of a lot more that are. Nothing's perfect. We should abandon death row as it is now and let the families hurt by these people slowly torture them to death. Jeremy Falcon Imputek Excrement escapes everyone - even elders.
Jeremy Falcon wrote: Sure, not everyone who's killed is guilty, but there are a hell of a lot more that are. Nothing's perfect. Absolutely unbelievable. If I didn't know any better I'd assume this was meant to be taken with a large pinch of salt. Unfortunately, you mean it. If a single person is wrongly executed, then the system has failed and the death penalty should be scrapped. Period. This is why we stopped hanging people in the UK. Jeremy Falcon wrote: We should abandon death row as it is now and let the families hurt by these people slowly torture them to death. That would make them as bad as the perps. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Throw these people in prison FOR LIFE, perhaps even make the conditions very harsh, but don't lower yourself to their level by killing them. It isn't going to deter most murders anyway - your typical "crime of passion" isn't premeditated, and is spur of the moment rage. This is why the French differentiate between the two (though someone may need to confirm this..!). I would be more than happy to see people incarcerated for life (which rarely happens in the UK, but don't get me started), instead of them being murdered by the state. At least if people in this situation are found to be innocent, they can be freed and recompensed.
When I am king, you will be first against the wall.
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Jeremy Falcon wrote: What if one of the guys on death row raped and killed your wife or daughter? Then what? Then you should not under ANY circumstances be able to have ANY say in their punishment.
David Wulff http://www.davidwulff.co.uk
Why? (btw: is there some issue with your sig these days? i can't seem to load it anymore :( [edit: 'k, it's started working again, nevermind :-O])
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Shog9 The siren sings a lonely song - of all the wants and hungers The lust of love a brute desire - the ledge of life goes under
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KaЯl wrote: IMO, evolving is not replacing axe by lethal injections. I rather hope punishment will evolve, though suspect the reverse is as likely. But i'd rather see the need for it removed.
KaЯl wrote: Cleary the second one. Good pick. :)
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Shog9 The siren sings a lonely song - of all the wants and hungers The lust of love a brute desire - the ledge of life goes under
Shog9 wrote: KaЯl wrote: Cleary the second one. Good pick. My eyes hurt!!;P Notorious SMC
The difference between the almost-right word & the right word is a really large matter - it's the difference between the lightning bug and the Lightning Mark Twain
Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please Mark Twain -
Before i go any further, i want to make it clear that i'm not commenting on the situation in Illinois, which is most certainly fucked. I rather think George Ryan should have commuted the sentences earlier in his term, rather than appearing to run out on the problem, but that is beside the point. KaЯl wrote: The consequences are not the same. No. They are not. In fact, i'm having a bit of difficulty thinking of many similarities between imprisonment and execution at all. One takes part of a life, the other takes all of it, once it's gone, it's gone, and there is no way to give it back. But execution cannot be stopped half-way, whereas a life sentence can. Execution has at least the appeal of relevance to the crime of murder - "eye for an eye" and all that. Given it's severity and finality, it should *not* be taken lightly - but i firmly believe in some cases it is appropriate, and in the end we must trust the justice system to use it wisely. Imprisonment, however, is the Wonder Drug of punishments - everything from forgetting to pay a speeding ticket to mass murder can get you imprisoned. We've built prisons of every shape and size: women's prisons, juvy prisons, SuperMax prisons, low risk prisons, high risk prisons... I just drove back from Cañon City, CO, a place surrounded by prisons containing everyone from Charles Manson to a local pastor convicted of writing bad checks. Does it help? Does it hurt? Is it cost-effective, or are we bleeding like a stuck pig from all these prisoners? Who cares? Lock 'em up, and ignore them - justice is served... right? A friend of mine was imprisoned for three years on drug charges - by her own account, it saved her life, as it removed her from destructive influences and provided her with counseling to help her deal with the problems causing her addictions. Certainly, this is an admirable result! Is this our goal also with murderers? Rapists? Thieves? Are these crimes even necessarily related to one another? Is there any good reason why we should pretend they should be punished in the same way? As a programmer, this system has a strange appeal to me - a uniform method of punishment, with classifications based on the type and severity of the crime. Why, how easy is that to codify! And if someone complains about the State being "soft on crime", just revise the codes to up sentences by a few years! But then, if people were simple machines we wouldn't be having all these problems in th
If we are going to execute people, why don't we also still have amputations as a punishment ? If a person steals something from a store is it barbaric to amputate the offending appendage ? If it is barbaric then isn't executing people for offenses like murder also barbaric ? Regardz Colin J Davies
Sonork ID 100.9197:Colin
You are the intrepid one, always willing to leap into the fray! A serious character flaw, I might add, but entertaining. Said by Roger Wright about me.
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Chris Losinger wrote: if only every politician could do one good thing while they're in office... What if one of the guys on death row raped and killed your wife or daughter? Then what? Are you even man enough to get really pissed off about it to the point of wanting to kill him? Or would you just let it be. Sure, not everyone who's killed is guilty, but there are a hell of a lot more that are. Nothing's perfect. We should abandon death row as it is now and let the families hurt by these people slowly torture them to death. Jeremy Falcon Imputek Excrement escapes everyone - even elders.
Jeremy Falcon wrote: Are you even man enough to get really pissed off about it to the point of wanting to kill him? Or would you just let it be. I would be monumentally angry. They would erect statues in my name showing what true anger is to the future generations. You would hear about it from under the north pole! Even if the guy was a 7 foot hulk of a beast I would want to be left with him in his cell so that I could tear his arms off and beat him with the bloody end. If he tore me limb from limb it would not be easy and I would be mildly content. But I would not want him to be put on death row for what he did. Killing him solves nothing. Killing him would mean I would never find out why he did it nor find out what tactic can get through to these maladjusted people and set them straight. Death row solves nothing except saving a few decades worth of prison meals.
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South Africa -
Chris Austin wrote: Sure it is not perfect but is a complete and utter failure if one innocent man or woman dies. Well, that depends - what is the purpose of the death penalty? If it is revenge, then there are (IMHO) deeper issues with it than a few innocents getting killed. But i think there are (or could be) better uses for it, as a deterrent or to demonstrate the effectiveness of the judicial system. In these situations, it is perhaps not a failure so much as a regrettable side effect that some executions are carried out on people for the wrong reasons. Similar to a surgeon mistakenly amputating the wrong leg, such occurrences are the inevitable outcome of human fallibility - but not in itself a reason to ban either executions or surgery! It should be noted also that not all mistaken convictions are actually mistaken! In the case of a corrupt judicial system, banning executions is treating the symptom rather than the problem, and may only serve to placate the public, while continuing to allow "innocents" to be convicted and deprived of portions, rather than all, of their freedom.
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Shog9 The siren sings a lonely song - of all the wants and hungers The lust of love a brute desire - the ledge of life goes under
Shog9 wrote: Well, that depends - what is the purpose of the death penalty? If it is revenge, then there are (IMHO) deeper issues with it than a few innocents getting killed. But i think there are (or could be) better uses for it, as a deterrent or to demonstrate the effectiveness of the judicial system. In these situations, it is perhaps not a failure so much as a regrettable side effect that some executions are carried out on people for the wrong reasons. Similar to a surgeon mistakenly amputating the wrong leg, such occurrences are the inevitable outcome of human fallibility - but not in itself a reason to ban either executions or surgery! You are comparing trying to save a life with taking one. That's INSANE. Trying to save a life or undergoing surgery is done at full awareness of the patient of his next of kin. Now you're the one at the wrong place at the wrong time and before you know it, it's darkness forever. No choice made, no the one making the choice that your life should be sacificed is taken by someone else IMHO death penalty is a mideval way of punishment.. it's not a punishment at all, a punishment is intendid to learn from (ok so you won't do it again but that is more a side effect :( Next thing you know we're taking away hands to prevent robbers from stealing again. Hey you should not hate the Afgans or Irakis they are just a step ahead of you Shog9 wrote: some executions are carried out on people for the wrong reasons. so you think that they deserved to die anyway ???? My opinion you cannot undo evil by doing evil to the one who did it. And killing someone is evil no matter who does it, Uncle Sam or a madcake on the streets. I am pro locking them away forever if needed that's no problem but taking a life nope. (you're right I am from Europe :) ) Rutger
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Why? (btw: is there some issue with your sig these days? i can't seem to load it anymore :( [edit: 'k, it's started working again, nevermind :-O])
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Shog9 The siren sings a lonely song - of all the wants and hungers The lust of love a brute desire - the ledge of life goes under
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Jeremy Falcon wrote: Are you even man enough to get really pissed off about it to the point of wanting to kill him? Or would you just let it be. I would be monumentally angry. They would erect statues in my name showing what true anger is to the future generations. You would hear about it from under the north pole! Even if the guy was a 7 foot hulk of a beast I would want to be left with him in his cell so that I could tear his arms off and beat him with the bloody end. If he tore me limb from limb it would not be easy and I would be mildly content. But I would not want him to be put on death row for what he did. Killing him solves nothing. Killing him would mean I would never find out why he did it nor find out what tactic can get through to these maladjusted people and set them straight. Death row solves nothing except saving a few decades worth of prison meals.
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South AfricaPaul Watson wrote: Death row solves nothing except saving a few decades worth of prison meals. And don't they get that back in numberplates in the USA ? Christian No offense, but I don't really want to encourage the creation of another VB developer. - Larry Antram 22 Oct 2002
C# will attract all comers, where VB is for IT Journalists and managers - Michael P Butler 05-12-2002
Again, you can screw up a C/C++ program just as easily as a VB program. OK, maybe not as easily, but it's certainly doable. - Jamie Nordmeyer - 15-Nov-2002 -
Paul Watson wrote: Death row solves nothing except saving a few decades worth of prison meals. And don't they get that back in numberplates in the USA ? Christian No offense, but I don't really want to encourage the creation of another VB developer. - Larry Antram 22 Oct 2002
C# will attract all comers, where VB is for IT Journalists and managers - Michael P Butler 05-12-2002
Again, you can screw up a C/C++ program just as easily as a VB program. OK, maybe not as easily, but it's certainly doable. - Jamie Nordmeyer - 15-Nov-2002Christian Graus wrote: And don't they get that back in numberplates in the USA ? Sometimes I am not too sharp... you lost me here CG, what numberplates? What do they have to do with death row?
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South Africa -
Christian Graus wrote: And don't they get that back in numberplates in the USA ? Sometimes I am not too sharp... you lost me here CG, what numberplates? What do they have to do with death row?
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South AfricaI thought it was generally accepted that if you went to prison and DIDN'T get killed in the name of 'justice', that you spent your time making numberplates. Christian No offense, but I don't really want to encourage the creation of another VB developer. - Larry Antram 22 Oct 2002
C# will attract all comers, where VB is for IT Journalists and managers - Michael P Butler 05-12-2002
Again, you can screw up a C/C++ program just as easily as a VB program. OK, maybe not as easily, but it's certainly doable. - Jamie Nordmeyer - 15-Nov-2002 -
I thought it was generally accepted that if you went to prison and DIDN'T get killed in the name of 'justice', that you spent your time making numberplates. Christian No offense, but I don't really want to encourage the creation of another VB developer. - Larry Antram 22 Oct 2002
C# will attract all comers, where VB is for IT Journalists and managers - Michael P Butler 05-12-2002
Again, you can screw up a C/C++ program just as easily as a VB program. OK, maybe not as easily, but it's certainly doable. - Jamie Nordmeyer - 15-Nov-2002Christian Graus wrote: I thought it was generally accepted that if you went to prison and DIDN'T get killed in the name of 'justice', that you spent your time making numberplates. Ahhh, ok I did not know that. In SA prisoners are taught more feminine skills. Like making doileys and plastic chickens. Anything really to get them to make things tourists would want... which is a bit odd considering you would think we would want ex-cons as far away from tourists as possible.
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South Africa -
Jeremy Falcon wrote: Sure, not everyone who's killed is guilty, but there are a hell of a lot more that are. Nothing's perfect Sorry to disagree with you Jeremy. But, I think you've missed the point of the system. Sure it is not perfect but is a complete and utter failure if one innocent man or woman dies. How is their death any less disgusting or reprehensible? Jeremy Falcon wrote: We should abandon death row as it is now and let the families hurt by these people slowly torture them to death. What about the families of those incorrectly murdered by the state? Should the jurors and judges who sentenced them be subjected to the same madness that you suggest? By your reasoning, shouldn't they be put into a prision system where they are raped and beat? Fill me with your knowledge, your wisdom, your coffee.
Definitely. State sponsored murder is still murder. :mad: Anna :rose: www.annasplace.me.uk
"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia GraeschTrouble with resource IDs? Try the Resource ID Organiser Add-In for Visual C++
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did you read the speech? Jeremy Falcon wrote: Are you even man enough to get really pissed off about it to the point of wanting to kill him? this is about being a man? it's manly to kill innocent people who were convicted because the public defender didn't read the case? what is accomplished by picking a random guy off the street and killing him for something he didn't do? what message does that send? Jeremy Falcon wrote: Sure, not everyone who's killed is guilty would you walk into a courthouse and assume the guilt of an unsolved murder, knowing full well that you would receive the death penalty - even though you are innocent? if not, you have no right to condemn other innocent people to die for crimes they didn't commit. the gov's actions have nothing to do with the fairness of the death penalty, and everything to do with the fact that its application in Illinois is arbitrary and is being applied to people who are totally innocent. -c
I'm not the droid you're looking for.
Well said Chris. :rose: Anna :rose: www.annasplace.me.uk
"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia GraeschTrouble with resource IDs? Try the Resource ID Organiser Add-In for Visual C++
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Christian Graus wrote: I thought it was generally accepted that if you went to prison and DIDN'T get killed in the name of 'justice', that you spent your time making numberplates. Ahhh, ok I did not know that. In SA prisoners are taught more feminine skills. Like making doileys and plastic chickens. Anything really to get them to make things tourists would want... which is a bit odd considering you would think we would want ex-cons as far away from tourists as possible.
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South Africa -
Chris Losinger wrote: if only every politician could do one good thing while they're in office... What if one of the guys on death row raped and killed your wife or daughter? Then what? Are you even man enough to get really pissed off about it to the point of wanting to kill him? Or would you just let it be. Sure, not everyone who's killed is guilty, but there are a hell of a lot more that are. Nothing's perfect. We should abandon death row as it is now and let the families hurt by these people slowly torture them to death. Jeremy Falcon Imputek Excrement escapes everyone - even elders.
What if one of the guys on death row raped and killed your wife or daughter? Then what? Are you even man enough to get really pissed off about it to the point of wanting to kill him? I don't know if that is about being man, but I'll be so angry that I would kill anyone that is remotely suspected to be involved in the murder, without being much careful about his innocence! That's why it's better to keep the people who love the victims out of the inquiry. I don't know if killing the culprit will make me feel better, but I know for sure that this will not bring back to me my wife or my daughter. Sure, not everyone who's killed is guilty, but there are a hell of a lot more that are. Are you even human enough to get pissed off about that? -- Looking for a new screen-saver? Try FOYD: http://digilander.iol.it/FOYD