"Jonathan Ganz" wrote in message

I don't believe in the death penalty as a practice. The state should
not be in the business of killing people without necessity. There is
no necessity in executing someone who would otherwise be behind bars
for the rest of their life.

Miracle of miracles, Jon, we are in agreement.

War is a different matter, where the survival of the state (and the
people) is at stake.

Agreement again. Is the world nearing its end? g

However I have a big problem with the way the death penalty
is currently applied in this country. But hey, it's always
detail detail detail!

Perhaps that's why the Illinois governor suspended all such penalties
in his state?

Actually he did so for political capital, not from any particular moral or
ethical belief. Gov. Blago--I couldn't spell his full name on a bet without
looking it up--stated in a brief speech to an organization at the University
of Illinois that he personally believed in the concept of capital
punishment, but chose to honor the wishes of his constituency instead. It
may also have something to do with the prospect that he might end up in
prison someday himself. g He's up to his neck in scandal currently.

Max