Rich....come on now, can't you see my "two ounces" of levity !! LOL !
On a serious note, I DO BELIEVE in capital punishment.
Dave, I got the levity. I just see conservatives regularly throw out such simple solutions for very complex problems, half-joking/half-serious, and I enjoy pointing out the inconsistencies and logical fallacies in these non-solutions. While I know it makes for a good sound bite, it just doesn't do anything to advance the really important debates on these very serious issues. And after the last eight years, I have really had enough of sound bites and non-solutions.
For the record, I am pro-death penalty as well. I am very much an "eye for an eye" kind of guy in regards to criminal punishment. But I am also concerned about the validity of the judicial process, having seen my share of incompetent judges, lawyers and police officers. I don't think it is ever acceptable for our government to put to death an innocent person and I know it happens more often than most people realize. There are no easy answers to these very complex issues.
As far as the innocent person stuff.......tell that to the family of the Police officer just recently shot to death by a NINE time convicted felon that some A-HOLE judge allowed back on the streets here in Phila.
No question that is a horrific case. One of many, I know. And there are just as many stories of police officers beating, torturing and murdering innocent people. Did Amadou Diallo deserve what he got? I think not.
So, as with everything complex in the world, the Devil is in the details. Would you just execute everyone who commits a violent crime of any sort? Even first offenders? Or would you reserve it only for homicide cases? Would you feel as remorseful when it was proven that an innocent person was convicted and executed as you are for the officer that was slain in the line of duty? Would you have executed the police officers that murdered Diallo? As I said, there are no easy solutions.
