Re: The death penalty legitimizes murder

<< If it is okay to murder a murderer, then it is okay to murder.

Hence we still have war and murder in the world, and would do better
to listen to Jesus who told us to "love our enemies."* >><BR><BR>


And what was the end result of Jesus?  This is what you want for all society?


<<  Of course, tell that to the victims =\  Maybe we should do it like
they do in some Middle Eastern countries where the a relative of the
victim has a choice to blow the murderer away or set him free. >><BR><BR>


I would agree with such a notion if the relatives decide on how the criminal
dies.  


<< Of course, the death penalty is the least of our worries.  It is
merely a symptom of the criminal culture which grips America.  We need
to eliminate crime.  My recomendation is to give criminals the option
of parole earlier, while at the same time tightening parole standards.
>><BR><BR>



Well it won't work.  In the past decades, we have given criminals all they
wanted to stay in these jails.  The jails got fuller.  We have more parole and
social developmental programs for criminals than any other in the world, and we
have a higher rate of return.  We have been more liberal on harsh penalities in
this country than those who have death penalities, violent crime remains on the
rise.  

If you want to compare middle-east tactics, then lets compare their penal
system on theft.  In the middle east, when you steal something, you lose your
fingers or hand.  In America, when you steal something (depending on the value
of the merchandise stolen), they write you a ticket.  Now, which system has the
best results for stopping theft?  

In Singapore, if you get caught with drugs, they kill you.  In America when you
get caught with drugs, they rehibilitate you.  Which system has less drug
offenses?

In China, if you decide to damage the property of your neighbor or anybody,
they take a 5' cane and beat you so hard you have marks on your ass for life. 
In America if you damage your neighbors property, they make you serve community
service.  Which system has a better result of preventing theft or damage?  

If you wish to solve a problem, you go with those solutions that have proven
results.  Mind you the penalities may not be in your favor, but you have to
decide on which way to handle a problem.  The one that makes you feel better or
the one that works.  


<< Meanwhile we must increase funding for EDUCATION both inside and
outside of prisons, and teach criminals to learn trades in prison.  >><BR><BR>


The criminals have libraries at their disposal.  Instead of educating
themselves, they study law and file law suits that cost tax payers millions. 
You want to take this one step further?


<< At the same way, we need to eliminate all advertising for
alcohol and cigarettes (if there is _not_ a free speech issue) as both
are truly gateway drugs.
 >><BR><BR>


Not a good idea in a free society.  To do so is just an invite to the next
step.  Everybody has an issue.  Recently, some half witted lawyer wanted to sue
McDonalds because some kid got fat on the burgers.  While the suit failed, the
lawyer stated that they would be back.  And of course, the prices of McDonald
products went up.  What's next?  Preventing all fast food places to advertise.

Then we have the violent childrens defense where they blame the childs behavior
on video games and violent music.  So do we ban these entertainment segments of
our society from promoting such forms of entertainement?  

Let me introduce you to a mathmatical solution called the common denominator. 
The common denominator is the solution to many problems.  It is common ground
and can not be disputed.

In society, we have common denominators but refuse to look at them.  For
instance, since we have turned our prisons into reformatories, we have had an
increase in prisoners.  The common denominator is passivism.  But, it is
overlooked.

Violent children are much the same way, some blame their actions on violent
televison.  But in the past, television was more violent than programs of
today.  In the 60's they had shoot-em-down Westerns and the three stooges
beating each other in the head with hammers yet children at that time were
never this violent.  The common denominator?  Single parent families and
childrens rights.  But, we don't want to offend anybody and overlook these
factors.  

Times change and we sometimes can't go back.  But to recognize obvious changes
in our society and not relate them to problems we never had in the past cannot
be overlooked.  

At times, the answer is to find something new and at other times, the answer is
right behind you bitting you in the ass but you are just to scared to turn
around and look.    


The ultimate "common denominator" is personal responsibility.  A term not used
in our modern society but a term once held sacred in years past when these
problems were rare or non-exsistant.  And while we try to create new solutions,
the real answer to many of our problems remain in our history.