Death Penalty

There are part's to your argument that make sense, and other's that I find, conflict with my own view's. I believe too, that no-one has the right to take a life, even an institution. I believe that although an eye for an eye is good in theory, it present's problem's in practice. I also believe that, a death sentence is an easy way out, whereas life imprisonment is long, arduous and will give the prisoner me to reflect on what they did wrong and repent. Your comment's about the prison system being too relaxed are interesting. I too hold that belief, and that convict's while in prison should be given minimal comfort's. I feel is outside the realm or scope of our debate, so if you want to include, I would be glad to, or if you wish to start another debate on 'How and Why Prison need's to be tougher' etc. that's fine too. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Morality You state that it is best to 'Treat other's like you would want to be treated yourself' which is a good philosophy when it come's to your everyday dealing's with other people, however, I think it take's a better person to forgive, rather than to advocate an 'eye for an eye'. One example really spring's to mind here. Saddam Hussein, who was executed shortly after being interned by the allies in Iraq. To be honest, when I watched the video, I felt a pang of sympathy, regardless of what he had done, no-one deserve's death. That does not mean that they should not suffer the consequence's. If I will judge, I would have setenced him to life in prison with little to no luxuries, and placed in solitary confinement so that his thought's would devour him. Somehow I don't think he fully learned to regret what he had done, because he wasn't given the chance to mull over the atrocities he committed. Would you not agree that by condemning someone to death, you have their blood on your hand's? I know I would, because as (forgive the reference but it is relevant) Gandalf in Lord of the Ring's stated: "Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends. " . http://www.quotesdaddy.com... This saying, I believe unleashes a landslide of truth. We are all human being's regardless, only our own life is in our hand's. We can never know, if he actually would have repented for his crime's. Another issue in term's of morality jump's to mind when considering the death penalty. What if we are wrong? There have been countless case's of people being falsely imprisoned, havng been in the wrong place at the wrong time, or having been set up etc. In prison these people have the right to appeal and hopefully have their name's cleared of the crime they didn't commit. If someone is sentenced to death, they don't have that luxury, which seem's to me, to be a frightening ordeal. One which I would not want to find myself in. In the following source we find that, of the people sentenced to death post 1973, atleast 2.3% of them were falsely accused. That add's up to a lot in my book. A third issue I find with the death penalty, is that, no institution should given the right to take someone's life. Especially since we know that institution's can be easily corrupted. In my opinion, no-one, absolutely, no-one should have the right to another's life. That is too much responsibility for anyone. . http://www.offthekuff.com... ______________________________________________________________________ Cost You stated that it cost's less to imprison someone for life than it is to execute them, which I find is a compelling reason not to use the death penalty. You say that there should be alteration's and change's made to reverse this, but I think I have proved that, morally, that is not necessary. It even state's in this source that in New Jersey alone, the Death penalty has cost tax payer's 253 million dollar's. You stated at the start of your argument, that the fund's presented to inmate's would be better off going to the needy, and helping those who are below the poverty line make a decent living for themselve's. Well, that is what tax is for. It enable's the government to spend money on increasing the security and way of life for those who contributed. 253 million dollar's, to me, would buy a hell of a lot of meal's for the sick and poor. . http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org... ________________________________________________________________________________ Life Imprisonment "To both the innocent and the guilty, life imprisonment is something that is undesirable. However, how bad is it, really? For starters, prisoners get their 3 meals. These are 3 meals that could have been given to a starving child in Africa. Prisoners have a doctor, who maintains their health. They also can shower and maintain hygiene. They can watch TV, lift weights, and socialize. Of course, there are the cons, but for committing a crime, you are given all these pros until you die. What about those who are innocent, those that aren't given their 3 meals, their shower, and their doctor? If their crime is so severe that they are given life imprisonment, spending the rest of their life in a cage, wouldn't the resources be better spent on someone who is innocent and merely deprived? " -Con To be honest, prison life is not as bad as it used to be. However, it is still a horrible experience, one, as you would be undesirable for both the 'Guilty and Innocent alike'. Here are some quotation's from actual inmate's: ‘I think it's fair. .. They tell you you get nothing and plenty of it when you come in but you can work your way up and get privileges and you know if you mess about they'll take them off you, so you know where you stand, and they warn you about things first' (Prisoner, Holme House) 'The only time you feel safe in here is when you're locked up in your pad' (Prisoner, Risley). ‘To me, being treated with humanity means being provided with adequate, reasonably comfortable and clean accommodation and being acknowledged as a person with individual needs, desires, concerns, strengths and weaknesses' (Prisoner, Doncaster). What you seem to be advocating is that prisoner's regardless of their crime (since you did not specify) should be treated with as little humanity as possible. However, studies show that prisoner's have a higher chance of rehabilitation if they are treated with a little respect. By trying to eradicate the feeling of hatred, people tend to be more co-operative, making managing the Prison easier. That is why prisoner's have some luxuries like a gym and television, because an active mind a healthy mind. For instance, have you ever realised that kid's tend to cause more trouble when they are bored? Growing up in the Northern Ireland I found that when someone is bored, it lead's to anti-social disorder pretty quickly. In response to your question, yes, I will concede that money would be better spent on the innocent and deprived, in a perfect world. But we don't live in a perfect world, far from it. There will alway's be crime, and therefore there will alway's be prison's. . http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk... I liked your quote by Immanuel Kant, being one of my favourite Philosopher's. So in good spirit's I return the favour with another quotation. Here's to you as good as you are Here's to me as bad as I am But as good as you are And as bad as I am I'm as good as you are As bad as I am. - Irish Proverb