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Rep. Chasey's remarks were pretty unfortunate. Obviously Governor Richardson has a position on the death penalty, one I don't agree with but I still support him because I believe that overall he is a great leader. I can imagine though with his Catholic upbringing he has wrestled with the death penalty issue, as I have over my life. I came to the conclusion that it is morally wrong, and a sign that the US still holds some pretty archaic and barbaric conventions when it comes to criminal justice, and the argument that it is a deterrent to crime doesn't hold up for me when you see our murder rate is much higher than the nations that do not execute criminals.
That said, I do think a politician should be able to change positions on social issues without being stigmatized with the "flip flopper" label. People mature. Evidence changes. We grow, we learn, and we should be able to say, "Hey, I spent my life believing X, but have come to understand that Y really makes more sense." I would much rather see someone "flip flop" than continue to embrace a position out of fear of political retribution.
In fact, I think of all the dangerous and misguided and vitriolic things supported by the Republican Party, the "flip flop" has to be near the top. Just another glitter-dunked spin tactic designed to create snickers and buzz and further cheapen and debase our discourse, because we all know that cheap soundbites are the din that drown out the real issues, where the Republicans just can't win.
First off.
Cara, that sure was a long winded argument to justify political expediancy. You may not know this, but Republicans do win debates on issues. Ask Patsy Madrid!
Secondly.
I believe that the death penalty is warranted, not so much as a means to deter criminals, but as an option for judges/juries to have in circumstances that warrant such action. I think those who are convicted as child rapists, child predators, and child murders should automatically get the death penalty. The sooner, the better!
I'd much rather spend my money toward lethal injections then I would the $60,000/year we currently spend on each inmate.
If we're going to sentence these folks to life in prison, we might as well expediate the process.
I am against the death penalty because death is a FALSE punishment.
First of all, everybody dies. Deserving has nothing to do with death.
Using death as some sort of "punishment" contributes to the fearful degenerate cultural attitudes towards a natural life process.
Say kill someone out of revenge or as a means of ridding society of a threat. But don't call it punishment.
Death is not a negative event. It just is.
Mindless folks have confused the morality of murder with death. It is the murderer that pays the cost of immorality, not the murdered.
Anonymous: I've seen many studies showing that when you factor in the cost of appeals, the death penalty costs more than incarceration.
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