Re: Capital Punishment
I am against CP.
My reasoning may seem too simple-minded to those with different world views. I think these contradictory world views may be irreconcilable.
Well, here goes:
1. Killing the perpetrator doesn't mend the damage done. So, it doesn't help solve anything that's already happended.
2. Killing the perpetrator doesn't add any appreciable safety margin to free citizens compared to life in maximum security prison. So, it doesn't really protect the public.
3. Thus, the only real reasons to kill would be revenge, cost savings, or to protect other inmates and guards.
4. Revenge is no good reason to kill, so I'll dismiss that as feeding a terrible human quality.
5. Killing may save societal costs. However, maybe a smarter prison system would be more effective in utilizing the prison workforce in a more self-sustaining way. For example, requiring inmates to work at some labor in order to receive additional benefits could have great benefits--productive work that defrays costs and a more stable, contented prison poulation. Unfortunately, many with the desire to punish will not like this option because they don't want inmates to lead a productive (even if confined) life--they went perpetual suffering or death even if no benefit to the rest of society.
6. Killing to protect other inmates or guards seems unnecessary considering more practical means of controlling prison populations. The slight risk of killing an innocent person seems to outweigh the slight risk of another inmate or prison guard.
Thus, given this train of thought, I can only come up to the conclusion that I am against CP.
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