On Mon, 01 Jan 2007 09:05:15 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

On 1/1/2007 6:48 AM, Tom Francis wrote:
On Sat, 30 Dec 2006 21:10:27 GMT, "NOYB" wrote:

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
On 12/30/2006 1:23 PM, JR North wrote:
Watched the footage this morning. Kudos to the Iraqis for getting the job
done quick. I wish our system was so efficient.
In recent years "we" have discovered that at least some of those we have
condemned to die were innocent of the crimes for which they were sentenced
to capital punishment. We have no doubt executed some in this country who
were innocent, but once the convicted are dead no one expends energy
exonerating them.
I'm against capital punishment...but there's little doubt about Saddam's
culpability for the crimes that he was accused of.

Being the peace, love and fraternity type that I am, I think that it
is the paramount responsibility of society to expect that the
punishment fit the crime. The question is what is the appropriate
punishment?

There are problems with this simplistic approach. How do you make the
punishment fit a case where a criminal breaks into a home, beats and
rapes an 80 year old woman, steals all her valuables then leaves her
to die only she doesn't but stays alive, beaten with broken bones on a
cold floor in a cold apartment for 12 hours until she is found? Do
you throw the criminal in jail? How long? Access to fitness
equipment, food, education, entertainment?

It seems to me that as a society, we need to reevaluate the criteria
for punishment and come to some kind of consensus that doesn't require
three meals a day, proper exercise and a safe, secure roof over their
heads, properly inflated basketballs and clean sheets three times per
week.





The punishment for the crime you described should be life in prison
without parole. Once in prison, felons who behave properly should be
allowed to live reasonable lives, with access to food, exercise, and
safety, and access to counseling, education, and work. Felons who do not
behave properly usually find themselves in maximum security lockups,
where there are no privileges and they remain in a tiny cell 23 hours a
day.

Another argument I would proffer is that the sentences for non-violent
criminals are far too harsh.

Among so-called modern western nations, our criminal justice system is
pretty much backwards, and it manifests itself in the production of
prisoners who become worse felons while locked up.

We should remember that felons, terrorists, and rogue nations are all
alike. If we simply be nice to them, they'll be nice in return.
--
John