Thread: Oldest Death Row inmate dies....

Originally Posted by Tuck

Originally Posted by deathgodusmc

Originally Posted by Tuck

Ha and the pro death penalty folks keep arguing numbers while ignoring their moral vacuity. Have you nothing to say about all the ethical arguments that have been laid before you by people here? Or is putting your fingers in your ears and yelling "lalalalala I can't hear you" a means you still use to enable your inane positions?

I have nothing against cutting costs in prisons with subsistence labor and more spartan conditions, but anyone who still advocates the death penalty is being foolish.

First you have introduce a moral vacuity before you can act like those that are pro death penalty are ignoring it.

I thought I did, I'm not sure I understand what you're saying. I am saying it is immoral to kill innocent people via the judicial system, which is what inevitably happens when you advocate the death penalty. I am also saying that the ratio of guilty to innocent people being killed by the judicial system is irrelevant, as a single innocent purposely killed in a system over which we have total control (unlike, say, war or combat) is morally unacceptable. Therefore those who advocate this means of punishment are exhibiting a certain level of moral vacuity, a problem which they seem unwilling to address by continually arguing over largely irrelevant figures rather than the superseding ethical issue.

I understand your point but if a jury of their peers convicted them to a maximum sentance of death. Even if the verdict is wrong we have done everything within reason at that point in time to try and keep the innocent out of jail. If that is not good eoung then who should be the one holding the veto card? Whos is the all knowing person that can make sure it never happens?

To assume that we have total control over anything is an unrealistic statement. Have you ever been to court? I have many times these judges are damn near making shit up as they go. Don't believe me ask a lawyer or someone that sees this environment frequently. Pled not guilty in front of a judge having a bad day and see how it works out for you.

Your talking about morals. Of which nothing says you have to have the same morals as the guy next to you. What you see as immoral i see as a shity situation. Being innocent and in jail is not right but the number of those is a whole hell of a lot less than those that are guilty and let free. We have rules to try and keep those that are guilty in prison and those that are innocent not in prison. Is it perfect fuck no but it's the best anyone could come up with so far. Maybe later down the road there will be mind reading or something that will eliminate the problem all together but for now we have to work with what we have available to us.

It doesn't make someone immoral because they believe in a death penalty any more than it makes you immoral for not believing in one. Some feel an eye for eye should mean just that. It's not like people get electricuted for stealing a loaf of bread. Your talking about the ones that commited murder. They knew ahead of time what the consiquences would be if caught and did it anyway. So why would their life be worth more than the one they took?

In those cases yes numbers should be talked about. A great deal of money is spent every year keeping them alive until they get executed. Thats like putting gas in a car you just totaled. It makes no sense.

Originally Posted by jabberwock

I urge you to read the case summaries of those exonerated and those likely innocent when executed. If your faith in the courts is enough to assume that all men on death row are 'guilty', this may help you understand why I consider them 'unresolved'.

Faith in the courts has nothing to do with it. We all know there are always going to be mistakes because nothing is perfect and we sure ass hell dont live in a perfect world. It's what we have to work with. Back in the day it was harder to prove innocent but reasonable doubt has been around since the begining. Now we have dna and all kinds of neat little shit. So it's much harder to convict an innocent man than it was 50 years ago. In the end it comes down to do your peers think you did it.

We could speed up the court system. From now on no more peers. You walk in a coin gets flipped tails you walk heads you fry. Then you will really have something to be upset with.

I say the death penalty is much more humane than the alternative of locking someone away for the rest of their life and letting them wither away. It just sounds so sadistic when you think about it.