18/10/2009

The Death Penalty

Everybody has an opinion on that one, no? Either it's "Yeah! Let the punishment fit the crime!" or "God, no! It's barbaric!" Now, I think it's fine to have emotional reactions to practices, but surely whether the death penalty saves lives, costs lives or is neutral in that respect should play a huge role in whether you support it, oppose it or take an agnostic position, no?

Where I live*, everyone opposes it. The only person I've ever met who advocated the death penalty (for O.J. Simpson specifically) was an American tourist. Seriously. If I wanted to, I could memorize the citations to some studies which suggest the death penalty saves lives and have a bit of fun arguing in its favour at the next party I'll go to. In theory, people could counter my arguments citing studies that suggest the death penalty does not save lives, or is even harmful in that respect ("brutalization effect"), which also exist. But of course people don't know those studies.

People. They're really not my type.

I may or may not be too agreeable a person to actually do this; we'll see about that.

Now, I know you come to this blog for the positive vibes. O.k.: Here's a photo of a puppy:


Feeling better?

______
*When I say "where I live" (and this goes for future posts as well), I don't just mean "Germany", but "where I live socially", i.e. the types of people I mingle with.

1 comment:

dudleysharp said...

If you ever feel the need to argue for the death penalty.

"Basics: The Pro Death Penalty Perspective"
Dudley Sharp, contact info below
10/2009

As a near absolute rule, death penalty presentations, debates and conferences are little more than anti death penalty celebrations, with the pro death penalty position given short shrift, if any. Indoctrination, not education, is the model. Often. media reports follow that same path.

An even balance of information is important for considerations of any important public policy issue. I am hopeful that the following information will make a contribution to that effort.

Should you have any questions, please let me know. I am more than happy to assist in fact checking and will gladly respond to any challenges to my material.


"The Death Penalty: More Protection for Innocents"
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/07/05/the-death-penalty-more-protection-for-innocents.aspx


"Deterrence and the Death Penalty: A Reply to Radelet and Lacock"
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/07/02/deterrence-and-the-death-penalty-a-reply-to-radelet-and-lacock.aspx


"Death Penalty, Deterrence & Murder Rates: Let's be clear"
http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2009/03/death-penalty-deterrence-murder-rates.html


The 130 (now 135) death row "innocents" scam
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/03/04/fact-checking-issues-on-innocence-and-the-death-penalty.aspx

"Cost Savings: The Death Penalty"
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/05/07/cost-savings-the-death-penalty.aspx


"Death Penalty Sentencing: No Systemic Bias"
http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2009/07/death-penalty-sentencing-no-systemic.html


"Death Penalty Polls: Support Remains Very High - 80%"
http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2009/07/death-penalty-polls-support-remains.html


"Killing equals Killing: The Amoral Confusion of Death Penalty Opponents"
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/02/01/murder-and-execution--very-distinct-moral-differences--new-mexico.aspx


"The Death Penalty: Neither Hatred nor Revenge"
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/07/20/the-death-penalty-neither-hatred-nor-revenge.aspx


"A Broken Study: A Review of 'A Broken System' "
http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2009/10/broken-study-review-of-broken-system.html


"The Death Penalty: Not a Human Rights Violation"
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2006/03/20/the-death-penalty-not-a-human-rights-violation.aspx


"Death Penalty Support: Modern Catholic Scholars"
http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2009/07/death-penalty-support-modern-catholic.html


"Sister Helen Prejean & the death penalty: A Critical Review"
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/05/04/sister-helen-prejean--the-death-penalty-a-critical-review.aspx


"Pope John Paul II: Prudential Judgement and the death penalty"
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2007/07/23/pope-john-paul-ii-his-death-penalty-errors.aspx


"At the Death House Door" Can Rev. Carroll Pickett be trusted?"
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/01/30/fact-checking-is-very-welcome.aspx


Dudley Sharp
e-mail sharpjfa@aol.com, 713-622-5491,
Houston, Texas

Mr. Sharp has appeared on ABC, BBC, CBS, CNN, C-SPAN, FOX, NBC, NPR, PBS , VOA and many other TV and radio networks, on such programs as Nightline, The News Hour with Jim Lehrer, The O'Reilly Factor, etc., has been quoted in newspapers throughout the world and is a published author.

A former opponent of capital punishment, he has written and granted interviews about, testified on and debated the subject of the death penalty, extensively and internationally.