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Old 05-28-2007, 08:49 PM   #1
Flint
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce View Post
It has nothing to do with revenge, payback, even the score or balancing the scale.

When the courts have determined that a person is not, and will not, be allowed back into society because they pose a danger to the population, then they are separated from society permanently.
Quote:
Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce View Post
Does it really make that much difference to them to be in maximum security?
What about the ones that say, "Yeah, I did it and would rather die then be locked up. Would you honor their wishes?
These questions appear to deviate from the stated goal of separating them from society, and enter the realm of execution as punishment.

I don't know what their preference would be, however I do know that if we choose to execute individuals based on the outcome of a system that isn't 100% infallible, then there will be some percentage of innocent people wrongly executed by the state, with our consent. Can you disagree?

Either we can ignore that reality, or we can state that it is acceptable as a trade-off for something. What that "something" is is what I am asking you.

What is the price of one innocent human life? What can we get in return for knowingly executing an anonymous human being, that will make it okay?

You must know the answer, since you support doing so.
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Last edited by Flint; 05-28-2007 at 08:54 PM.
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Old 05-28-2007, 11:20 PM   #2
xoxoxoBruce
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flint View Post
These questions appear to deviate from the stated goal of separating them from society, and enter the realm of execution as punishment.
Not at all, just a more practical way than locking them up with the related hassles for the next 40/50/60 years. Nothing to do with being punitive.
Quote:

I don't know what their preference would be, however I do know that if we choose to execute individuals based on the outcome of a system that isn't 100% infallible, then there will be some percentage of innocent people wrongly executed by the state, with our consent. Can you disagree?

Either we can ignore that reality, or we can state that it is acceptable as a trade-off for something. What that "something" is is what I am asking you.

What is the price of one innocent human life? What can we get in return for knowingly executing an anonymous human being, that will make it okay?

You must know the answer, since you support doing so.
There's no perfect system. How many people did your hospital kill last year? Did the hospital close because they might kill someone? At least stop all elective procedures. Should we replace all stairs with ramps so those thousands of people don't die? Damn near anything we do, including getting out of bed is statistically more dangerous, than the risk of being falsely executed.

Remember the alternative is not fields of clover and bucolic afternoons, it's being Big Bubba's bitch for the rest of their life.
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Old 05-29-2007, 08:59 AM   #3
Flint
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Quote:
There's no perfect system. How many people did your hospital kill last year? Did the hospital close because they might kill someone?
Hospitals serve a purpose in society, but carry risks as well. I'm convinced that by default we should have hospitals despite the risks. I'm not convinced that by default, we should execute criminals. I think the default is not killing people, unless a reasonable justification can be supplied. I'm still waiting to hear that justification.

Quote:
Nothing to do with being punitive.
The specific reason I said that your questions appear punitive in nature is that you were asking about the criminals preference, IE which would they prefer: death or jail. That is not a question about what serves society, it's a question about what punishes the criminal more harshly. Do you understand how I might get that impression?

Quote:
Not at all, just a more practical way than locking them up with the related hassles for the next 40/50/60 years.
I ask again: is "convenience" a reason for state-sanctioned executions, even knowing that innocents might die with your consent?

Quote:
So, I asked about situation where making a mistake is not an issue.
I disagree. You asked this (a "GOTCHA" hypothetical):

Quote:
What about the ones that say, "Yeah, I did it and would rather die then be locked up. Would you honor their wishes?
Your scenario, applied to reality, necessitates a system where the state has the power to issue state-assisted suicides. We aren't debating assisted suicide, we're debating capital punishment.

The criminals wish to be executed (or not) does not factor into capital punishment.

And, to be specific, a "confession/request-to-die" does not create a situation where all doubt is removed.

This hypothetical creates a scenario that is exponentially more complex, when you apply it to reality.

Quote:
If you still don't want to execute, even though he requested it, then your argument is not the accidental frying an innocent. It's personal belief, moral position, whatever, it's how you feel.
Wrong. My position is based in IRON-CLAD LOGIC. I repeat:

With a .000~01 percent chance that an innocent person is wrongly executed, we are condoning the execution of innocent persons .000~01 percent of the time.

I know that the system isn't infallible, and I don't support the state-sanctioned execution of innocent persons; therefore, by a series of connected, logical points, I cannot support the death penalty.

Either you disagree that the system is imperfect, or you think that innocent deaths are acceptable. Those are the only options.
__________________
******************
There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there
it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your
expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever
gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio

Last edited by Flint; 05-29-2007 at 09:33 AM.
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Old 05-29-2007, 06:23 PM   #4
xoxoxoBruce
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No it is not.
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Old 05-29-2007, 06:32 PM   #5
Flint
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce View Post
No it is not.
Yes it is so.
__________________
******************
There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there
it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your
expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever
gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio
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Old 05-29-2007, 06:34 PM   #6
xoxoxoBruce
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Only in your world, and homey don't play dat.
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