Death Penalty - Politics Forum

Topic: Death Penalty

What are your views on the Death Penalty?

#1 Jan 22nd 2007, 5:05pm

SamKip

The death penality is not effective. It does nothing to deter crimes. The trials are often much more expensive than trials where the verdict is imprisonment. Courts are also slightly racist in these trials. A black man attacking a woman is viewed harsher than a white man attacking a woman. Besides, no one's perfect; there have been about eight cases where the prisoner that was executed was later proven innocent.

#2 Jan 26th 2007, 10:54pm

Midnight In Eden

That's a very simplistic view of it ^^

Still though I have to say that I'm against it. It's just harkering back to the days of "eye for an eye" and doesn't it make sense to move past that? Also in terms of reliability, there are innocent people in jail and on death row, so why risk killing an innocent person when there could be ways in the future to clear them?

I personally can't find a good reason for it to be in operation anywhere.

#3 Jan 27th 2007, 6:52pm

Taltush/MeiMei

I'm firmly against the death penalty. Think about it logically. It's the cruelest thing you can do to a person: murder. Yes, maybe they've done a lot of bad and maybe they even deserve death, but why do WE have the right to kill them? It's true that it's often racist and unfair, and sometimes the accused ARE innocent. It's a terrible way to die and it's simply disgusting.

That's the end of it.

#4 Jan 30th 2007, 12:01pm

Very much against it.

#5 Feb 02nd 2007, 3:28pm

The best arguement I've heard for it:

The fact is, keeping a bunch of prisoners is very expensive.

My View:

Then why do they spend years waiting to die? And why do we spend so much damned money killing people in this country?!?!

By next year the war in Iraq will cost $474 dollars for every man, woman, and child in America! (CNN, last night)

If we can afford a pointless war that doesn't have anything to do with us and never did, then why can't we afford to stop killing prisoners like cattle? I know many of them deserve it...but personally, I'm Catholic, and I believe in forgivness and allowing God to punish them as He sees fit. Besides, leaving them in prison is safe enough.

#6 Feb 06th 2007, 9:51am

Numbers are variable. due to a person's beliefs, they can be adjusted to satisfy the person. I am not saying this number is incorrect, I am simply saying that it could be exaggerated.

#7 Feb 07th 2007, 6:35pm

As I noted, I got that number from a CNN news report which originated from graphing the spending rate. Being as how our president won't change his politics to prevent the sun from exploding, I don't think things will be much cheaper in Iraq in the future. In fact, since we're averaging a helicopter a week lost this month, the cost will likely increase as equipment is replaced and mantainenced, etc. I'm just wondering why America spends more on violence than on helping its own poor.

#8 Feb 07th 2007, 7:04pm

I don't know about the statistics concerning numbers, and I certainly don't think that the value of a human life should be reduced to the cost efficiency of keeping them alive. However, I don't think that it's ever right to kill a person, no matter what they've done. I believe that they will be punished. The universe evens everything out eventually. I've met murderers, about five in fact, and I don't think any of them deserve to die.

#9 Feb 07th 2007, 8:43pm

This might sum up my beliefs in the death penalty. For the past 13 years of my life, I have lived in Texas. TEXAS. TEXAS. We have already killed, what, 10 people this year? Criminals don't get much respect down here.

#10 Feb 08th 2007, 6:10pm

No offense, but Texas kills everything. All problems are solved in Texas through violence...kinda makes sense that Bush is from there....

#11 Feb 09th 2007, 5:52pm

My point exactly.

#12 Feb 09th 2007, 5:53pm

I don't think you should use your place of residence as an excuse for your beliefs. Sure, your surroundings certainly influence your views, but exploration beyond the narrow square you have been given is necessary. I don't use being Victorian as an excuse for supporting legalised prostitution. I've thought about my own views on the issue.

#13 Mar 02nd 2007, 5:43pm

Whether we like it or not, we are creations of our society to a very, very high extent. My basic beliefs are based off of republican and texan beliefs, and if I lived in washington, Carolina, Dakota, or any other state, I would still support the death penalty.

#14 Mar 02nd 2007, 6:23pm

Well in that case, fair enough. I just didn't like you using Texanism as an argument. It seemed sort of like saying 'yeah I'm a Nazi, but I can't help it, I'm German'. Basically, we're all victims of our backgrounds to some extent, but this can be helped by expanding our spheres of understanding. The internet helps this in a number of ways, by introducing alternative viewpoints etc. Even studying another language can have the same effect.

#15 Mar 03rd 2007, 1:17am

Well, maybe I'm an anamoly, but I live in a very republican middle to upper-middle class neighborhood. 80% of my friends are republican and mock class elections always resulted in a Republican win. But i watch TV and i don't see anything in this administration that makes any sense! Now, the death penalty has been debated long enough that it is not even close to being specific to the Bush admin (its usually state related anyhow), but I base many of my views off religion. I'm catholic and I can't understand how people who claim to be any sort of christian (mormon to methodist to catholic), can possibly go to church and come back saying "kill all them prisoners!" or "Let's go kill us some sand niggers" (no offense to anyone that was just quoting something I heard from a so called "christian").

So, I believe that in today's modern world everyone should try to think out their own beliefs and not what society presses upon them. Think of the enlightenment, for example! How would intellectuals living under kings for centuries decide that some rights are self evident and are our rights naturally? Would Locke have gone down in history if he just modeled himself after the society as a whole? Or if he remained a happy, middle class intellectual who didn't think of the lower class? And from people like him it spread amongst intellectuals and eventually (however, slowly) to the lower class of the early Industrial Revoultion.

How, then, would society ever change if we all just let ourselves be molded by our surroundings? It will inevitably happen to some degree, but if we don't try our best to remain individual, we will not improve anything. A single person is human, but people in a group are animals who will do anything given only a slight motive and a large enough group.

#16 Mar 03rd 2007, 10:17am

I've had quite a clash of beliefs. On the one hand, my grandparents are all quite racist and my dad's family are fairly centrist. My mum is fairly liberal and most of my family, apart from my grandma, are atheists. Nonetheless, I went to Catholic school and my grandma often tried to get me to be baptised. I live in the strongest Labour seat in Victoria (Labour being the main opposition party here)- a diverse, fairly working class area with lots of migrants. I went to primary school in another working class suburb at an extremely conservative Catholic school. I went to a more liberal Catholic highschool in the strongest Liberal (relatively conservative government party) seat in Victoria (though it must be said the Liberal leader in that area is quite a smart, socially aware, fantastically apt cookie and actually a liberal Liberal rather than a conservative Liberal). So my background is mixed. I've also travelled quite a bit, mostly to Europe, but to Singapore, Thailand and Japan as well. I pay attention to international affairs and I was the captain of the school Social Justice Committee for three years. I hope to major in International Studies and German in my BA. So I've had all sorts of viewpoints thrown at me over the years. I've had to make up my own mind about pretty much everything, from social issues to religious beliefs. I don't let my views remain static either. While most issues will probably remain clear-cut to me: Death penalty is wrong, torture is wrong, protecting the environment is good, nuclear power is dangerous etc. I know that some of my views will change over time. My views on abortion, for instance, have always been quite fluid.

I think one of the best ways to expand your viewpoint is to join a debating team and play devil's advocate. Every time I debate, I like to argue against my own views. Arguing against yourself with conviction is a good skill and will let you see the other side (or sides) of arguments that you might feel have little controversy surrounding them. For example, try writing letters to the editor from the perspective of a communist about... well, anything you can think of I guess.

#17 Mar 03rd 2007, 10:30pm . Edited Mar 03rd 2007, 10:30pm

Off topic, but what's it like in Japan? I consider going there after high school or college alot.

#18 Mar 04th 2007, 6:16pm

Rather offtopic :P I loved Japan. I'm planning to go there with an English-teaching program after I get my degree. The food is great! The people are very polite. Depending on where you are, public transport can be confusing, but generally getting from town to town is quite easy and most stations have employees with good English skills... it's also quite cheap, or was when I was there. The economy is improving, but back when I was there the prices were about the same as Australia, perhaps a little cheaper. Housing is ridiculously expensive in some areas, especially Tokyo, but if you're only planning to go for a little while, or with a program, generally your accomodation is taken care of. I say go. Never met anyone who didn't like Japan.

#19 Mar 04th 2007, 11:16pm

C. Patrick Ostiguy

Three words: Monday Night Beheadings.

#20 Mar 08th 2007, 10:31am

Then why don't you move to Saudi Arabia, you sick bastard.

#21 Mar 09th 2007, 11:23am

I'm going to guess that he was being sarcastic.

#22 Mar 09th 2007, 11:10pm

I doubt it

#23 Mar 10th 2007, 10:20am

Lady Glass

I'm rather split when it comes to the death penalty.

On one hand, when I hear of a particularly sick crime on the news, the first that comes to mind is, "That person does not deserve to live." And then I think some more and the thought actually sickens me. Who are we to say who lives and who dies? I just heard on the news the other night about a man stuck in Saudi Arabia, I believe, who has been sentenced to death by beheading (he has 80 days to the foreign affairs people to try to sort it out, I believe he's Canadian) and the whole idea strikes me as barbaric. And how is electrocution, gas, etc. any more "civilized" than beheading? IMO, not at all. Either way, you are killing a person.

I don't know. I just can't imagine it's right.

#24 Mar 05th, 9:32pm

The Death Penalty should only be used in the most extreme cases but it should be kept. We NEED it and statistics show that after an execution, crime goes down for a bit.(Reverse happens when one is stayed)

Really, why do we care about cold hearted criminals who have committed cold blooded murder? We should just throw them in a cell and let them rot for what they did. We care too much for criminals and too little for victims.

#25 Mar 15th, 12:19pm

Kumquat21

An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.

And on that subject, a tooth for a tooth makes everyone talk like popeye.

Against the death penalty. I cannot sponsor killing. I cannot agree to the end of a life, no matter what they have done. What if it was someone I'd known from childhood? What if I knew there mother?

#26 Mar 18th, 6:37pm

Kumquat21

Double post - lo siento! Just like to state the obvious - I think on a very emotional level. I don't really know the statistics on any death penalties. I'll try and look them up, then repost what I think. Don't think anything I post is completely definite - I think it's important to have an open mind on everything.

#27 Mar 18th, 6:43pm

I am not there for the eye for an eye thing. The Death Penalty is done to prevent the person from ever killing again. With today's lenient court systems, there is no life in prison. Plus, we have to show people that their crimes punishments don't merit free room and board for the rest of your life. Heck some prisoners get treated better than citizens. And the people that merit the death penalty, I don't care who they were, if they killed people in cold blood, how the heck could I justify that? To me, the death penalty is justified as defense of society. So to hell with the eye for an eye thing, let's just stop trying to make things easier for cold blooded murderers and start trying to help out society.

#28 Mar 19th, 4:16am

Not going to voice my opinion one way or another on this, but my friend told me something he saw on the news. Some European country (i forget what one, maybe Austria) has a prison where the inmates are given cells that have a TV, radio, nice bed and bathroom. They all have views outside to a big lake and mountains (but they aren't allowed out there).

Supposedly it has one of the lowest return rates of inmates in Europe. Meaning, less people return after being let out. The idea is that they will want to live peacefully like that when they get out. Brainwashing into buying a condo and enjoying the view, if you will.

Just an interesting idea to flip around the entire way. I'm not going to say I support it or want nothing to do with it...but it's interesting.

#29 Mar 19th, 6:18pm

Writing4Eternity

I'm 100% against it

#30 Mar 28th, 7:15pm

MC Tane

It's vengeance disguised as justice. Oh wait...since when did we have real justice anyway?

#31 Mar 31st, 3:36pm

I’m not sure where I stand with the death penalty. God created everyone, I don’t believe that people are born evil; I think everyone has a good side to them. People like Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein deserve the death penalty, but even then what gives us the right to play God. Who gave us the right to choose who lives or who dies? The government doesn’t because there not God, and in the end it will be God who says who goes to heaven or hell. Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein will pay for their sins and the crimes they have committed, but by giving them lethal injections, your no better then they are, because in the end your committing murder. Yes, they deserve it but does that mean we should kill them? Letting them live in solitary confined meant for the rest of there life, without parole and them knowing that they will never see another sun rise again is a better punishment.

#32 Apr 20th, 12:32am

I can agree with that to some point. Do you have clinical depression? If you do, you know how ** you feel when you look into the future and realize there is nothing there for you. The way I see it, with some sentences, the death penalty is more humane, at least more than permanent solitary confinement.

#33 Apr 22nd, 6:33pm

I don't give a flying F*CK if its more humane! They lost the right to be treated as humans when they raped, murdered, and/or caused mass genocide. Death penalty gives you an easy way out. Permanent solitary confinement make's them SUFFER and the should! For all the pain and suffering they've cause. Why should we give them an easy why out? I'm not depressed. I just don't believe in the Death Penalty. But I do believe people should PAY for the PAIN they've caused others!

#34 Apr 23rd, 10:52pm . Edited Apr 23rd, 10:53pm

What do you say we lock them all up in solitary confinment and forget to give them nourishment? Afterall, according to some people, it's a very humane way to go. Ok, let us put our money where our mouth is and starve all those on Death Row. It'll save us money too.

#35 Apr 24th, 3:36am

I'm saying that we lock them up for life. I never said about not giving them any food to eat. We lock them up for life BUT we give them food, bathroom brakes, (cause who wants to deal with people who have ** on themselves? I mean really!) and of course let them have there showers (cause who wants to deal with BO?). But other then that, no other human contact. No going outside for exercise. NO NOTHING! PERIOD!

#36 Apr 24th, 12:26pm

Nah, I say dehydrate them. Afterall, it's apparently such a painless way to go says many people. Plus, we wouldn't have to spend any money on them.

#37 Apr 24th, 12:31pm

Ok, are you being sarcastic or are you being serious?

#38 Apr 24th, 12:33pm

Sort of a combination of the two.

#39 Apr 24th, 12:39pm

ok, which part are you being sarcastic about?

#40 Apr 24th, 12:42pm

Neither specifically. My comments are both sarcastic and serious at the same time.

#41 Apr 24th, 12:48pm

Ok, but don't you think dehydrating them on purpose would be considered cruel and unusual punishment? They would be protected under the 8th Amendment in the United States Constitution. You have some conservatives already fighting the death penalty. But now you would have liberals fighting for human rights.

#42 Apr 24th, 1:00pm

Well, according to some people, dehydration is not cruel and unusual punishment. So, if that is so, why not use it?

#43 Apr 24th, 1:07pm

Yeah to some it may not be, but it would never fly in the courts. You and I both know that, but also majority of the American people would be in an uproar so that would be a no go. If it were ever made into a law, you would only need one person to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Courts for it to be over turned. Like I said they would be protected under the 8th Amendment. Just because people you know would approve it doesn't mean others would.

#44 Apr 24th, 1:19pm

I dunno, just go in there and declare that they are in a PVS and the courts will not only support that we starve them, but they may just mandate it! There, NOW you know what I'm talking about. Maybe now you can get where I'm coming from.

#45 Apr 24th, 1:21pm

PVS? As in Persistent Vegetative State? Yeah, not likely. They'd probably charge you with cruel and unusual punishment for starving them. Solitary confinement is NOT a cruel and unusual punishment, if it was they would have gotten rid of it a long time ago. I think I missed your point, and if I did would you please clarify it to me?

#46 Apr 24th, 1:40pm

Don't you pay attention to the news? It's not only allowed, but it is HUMANE to starve to death people in a PVS!

#47 Apr 24th, 1:44pm

Sorry, but I rarely have the time to watch the news and when I do have the time I don't listen to the news. I'm in US/VA Government that's all I need where politics are concerned. Damn, that's f*cked up to starve people to death. Where I'm from you don't deny food to people, it doesn't matter what they've done.

#48 Apr 24th, 2:00pm

The US starves people in a PVS to death on a regular basis. It's part of the "right to die". It's apparently humane. I even heard a doctor on Good Morning America say that although starving to death is painful, you'll die of dehydration first and that isn't painful. So according to the right to die movement, dehydrationg isn't a painful way to go. If it's good enough for those in a PVS, I'd say it's good enough for people who've ruthlessly and cold heartedly taken the innocent life of another.

#49 Apr 24th, 2:05pm