Death Penalty

Ah, I've have not been looking forward to adhering to the last round of this debate. I've found this argument, interesting, stimulating, civil and in good jest. I would like to thank my opponent for this debate, and I hope we debate sometime in the near future. Perhap's on the some of the issue's that could not be addressed in this debate. Good luck and my the best man win. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Morality "Most prisoners will fight hard against the death penalty, the reason being, the most important thing to them is their own lives. I think taking that away from them is indeed punishment enough." I disagree with this statement, I cannot imagine that everyone, whether sane or insane, has repented and regretted their crime before being executed. There are those who are proud in the pain of other's. Only time alone, and in a harsh environment can really break someone's spirit, make them give up the tough guy/remorseless facade and actually accept that what they did was horrific. "In fact, most are treated like slaves whether they repent or not. [1]" "But we have both agreed that prison isn't as bad as it used to be. Prisoners don't spend every hour, of everyday with themselves confined in a room. There is solitary confinement, but they are only used under special circumstances. The effect of solitary confinement shows that it doesn't make them repent, but more so insane and mentally ill. [2] That said, the majority of life sentenced prisoners have their TV, exercise, and social life." Yes, I concede that prison is not as bad as it used to be, now that human right's are acknowleged and prisoner's are treated with a little respect. However, as you stated, they are still treated like slave's, only with a bit more respect. Prison's provide these ammenities to keep inmate's occupied, as as I have proved in a previous round, an inactive mind is an anti-social one. However, it is not the prison instution that make's life almost unbearable, it is fellow inmate's. I doubt I need to prove that fellow prisoner's can be violent, almost murderous and especially in America there is a high tendacy for rape, which to me, would be one of the worst feature's of being virtually without protection behind bar's. Not to mention that gang culture's are affluent in prison. This to me is proper punishment, as prison to me, is more undesirable than death. It is this horrible treatment, fear and misery that will make convict's feel remorse and regret for their crime's. In death you don't get that same chance, as I have already argued for. http://www.prisontalk.com... "I agree, but accidents do happen. Humans are imperfect, and therefore, are unable to carry out perfect justice. I agree that there is no room for error in justice, but it happens. It's reality. Sad but true. However, we shouldn't stop trying to carry out justice, in fear of error." That is still no excuse to say 'accident's happen' as if it cannot be helped. When you are to be the judge of whether someone live's or die's, there is no excuse for an accidentally wrong verdict. "And some people want the criminal to be put to death, to give them closure. To know that justice has been served." "A lot of things can be manipulated and perverted, like the government for example, doesn't mean we should be anarchists. Furthermore, we already DO have an institution that can end a person's life, if it is perverted, I ask my opponent to prove this claim" Yes, it is true that everything can be perverted, and once again you make ridiculous comparison's. If a government does not abide by the will of the people it will not last long without inforcing a rule of terror. I am not claiming that the institution is corrupt now, or was, in america, but it easily can be, just like it was in the exaple's I used in the previous round's. And yes, death my give some closure for some, but It depend's on how you view justice. Just as our view's on justice are manipulating our debate here. __________________________________________________________________ Conclusion's: In conclusion, I Believe that I have shown the audience that comdemning someone to death, does not serve justice, in what we deem to be a fair, and just society. Everyone, no matter, how horrid they are deserve a second chance to repent, feel remorse and better themselve's after committing a heanous crime. That does not mean they should be released, but in prison they may find some inner peace, having been given the time to revolutionise their thinking, and by understanding that what they are being served, is what they deserve. Everyone can change given a chance, everyone (although this sound's naive) has some good in them somewhere, and I believe 'that prison can really bring that to the surface, and if it doesn't, well it is there own loss. I have also shown that life imprisonment is more practical economically than the death penalty, being significantly cheaper. I find that this debate has been fuelled by my opponent's and I different view on morality and justice, however, I can easily see where we differentiate and where we could reconcile. Prison is a horrible place, but in my view, death is an easy way out. If you commit horrendous crime's, you should be prepared to meet horrendous consequence's, not death. I wish to thank my opponent again for this debate, and I wish him all the best in the voting process. Please vote fairly.