Death Penalty-Change your mind yet?

[Rudey]

You're presenting two lines of argument. One is for the ideal and the other is the reality. The reality is a system where humans are in charge...flawed simply because we're human. Flaws include improper motivations, corrupt agents, outlying factors, and the inability to properly assess and determine guilt of an accused. Even the guilty can avoid such a penalty through their own influence - money and fame do help, leaving the poor to fend for themselves.

The ideal is a system where prosecutors do not have outside motives, politicians are not greedy, outlying factors are determined and adjusted for or eliminated, and guilt is properly determined.

In the ideal, then the argument is whether death can befit anyone as determine by an entire system or society (no longer certain people or influential groups). It is no longer about the "death penalty" which indicates our present situation. This is too complicated an issue to deal with on here. Nobody can come up with a proper answer to it, and many the philosopher has tried.

But then again, in such an ideal world, I'm sure we wouldn't have crime to begin with. This entire argument of whether anyone can do something to deserve death or whether a society can punish them as such is null and void.

-Rudey
--You're human, accept it...for the women and children.

Originally posted by chioangel83
We say it's wrong to kill people. Yet our government turns around and does just that. That makes us hypocrites.
Look at the problems with the death penalty:
*The number of people who are released each year when new evidence proves they are innocent. Think of all those innocent people who died.
*The majority of people on death row or who have been executed are of ethnic minorities...hmmm. Does anyone else find that disturbing?
*It is too difficult to justify what deserves capital punishment. Every crime has varying degrees. Where do you draw the line?

I could go on and on.

I can't see the comfort in taking someone's life...even if they are a horrible criminal. These people are still human beings. They are someone's son or daughter, lover, friend, father or mother. Yes punish them. But don't kill them. If we do that, what are we teaching our society to become?