Debate discussion

Umm hmmm I think its fair but it would be scary I mean chained to a table and getting a shot that will kill u

Actually, studies have shown it isn't fair. Throughout American history, minorities who murdered and/or raped white people have traditionally been given the death penalty a lot more than white people. Also, the lower class is highly targeted by the death penalty, because middle- and upper-class people have a better capability of actually hiring a real lawyer.

In principle, I'm not against the death penalty. But, in practice, I strongly oppose the way the death penalty works.

Anna wrote: "I can guess how the debate went...the Christians, those 'Thou Shalt not kill' people were in favour of the death penalty, the other people who actually had humanity were against it."

Hey, I'm not in favor of the death penalty to be honest. I'm always afraid of them executing the wrong person. If the crime was that bad, at least keep them in jail for life instead of killing them.

I honestly never thought about jail as being like a cage, to be honest. I just always saw it with a little room with a bed, toilet, and bars.

I don't think that anyone should be killed for doing something wrong, BUT they should recive punishment depending on the severity of their crime (i.e., life in prison)

Lindsay wrote: "*rolls eyes* I didn't say that. I said it's living off the taxpayer's money and them not having to do anything in return."

Yeah, living in hell off the taxpayer's money. Would you rather them live next door to you?

i said that it would save the taxpayers money by giving them the death penalty.

It would save the taxpayers money if we didn't have roads, too. What's your point? Are we going to execute someone who steals a DVD player? No. So we need a sub-execution level of criminal justice -- i.e. prisons. So pointing out that prisons cost money is like pointing out that rain is wet.

"Yeah, prison is a real resort vacation. "

Actually, I think I saw an article posted in this group before about reform-y type prisons in Australia or something that actually are pretty sweet.

i said that if we gave the death penalty for serious crimes we not only be saving money but also, actually, be being fair by giving the death penalty.

It's already been explained how the death penalty is not fair: if you've been wrongfully executed, as opposed to wrongfully imprisoned, there's nothing you can do to clear your name. As long as there is a death penalty, there will be innocent people executed. This is hardly fair.

Additionally, the death penalty doesn't necessarily save money. Each death sentence comes with a lengthy and expensive appeals process. I believe, although I haven't seen the numbers in a while, that a life sentence actually costs less than an execution.

There is also little or no clear evidence that the death penalty works as a deterrent, and some evidence that it is counter-productive. For example, during the 90s, when crime was dropping across the country, crime dropped more slowly in states with the death penalty.

I haven't verified it recently, but I've heard the same data about the death penalty and everything it entails being more expensive than life imprisonment.

In addition to it not being fair or failsafe.

I don't plan on spending the rest of my life in prison, but I think the death penalty is for people who do severe crimes and all evidence proves them guilty.

"I think the death penalty is for people who do severe crimes and all evidence proves them guilty."

It seems a bit like those who are for the death penalty aren't paying any attention to the evidence being presented by people against it. Let me see if I can recap:

1. Evidence shows that, in a lot of cases, the death penalty has been used to execute people who didn't do the crime.

2. The death penalty has a long history of being used mostly on minorities and the poor, while the wealthy and the famous almost never get it.

3. The death penalty is actually more expensive than life in prison (here's an article to back that up with some info from studies) http://www.deathpenalty.org/article.p...

4. Evidence does NOT show that the death penalty works as a crime deterrant; in fact, the reverse is true.

And you on the pro-death penalty side of the argument seem to be saying, "Nonetheless, we should execute criminals who do really bad crimes." That's not an arguing point. That's like saying, "My position isn't going to change, no matter what you say, so let me say what it is again."

What logic are you using to support your point of view?

"if u want to make everything in the world become 9/11 then fine."

That's communism.

"tell a 13 year old girl to go fuck herself"

Your age doesn't fucking matter, if you can't take it, you can leave.

"ignorant posts on a website that only a handful of people have even heard of!

what? do you think that just because you argue constantly and scream your head off at everyone on goodreads you're going to change the world?"

Including you.

I think that it's kind of pointless to debate death penalty while the process of deciding who is guilty or innocent is so flawed.

He was burned at a stake for a crime he never committed.

Exactly one of the reasons why I am anti-death penalty.

Unrelated question: Is there really a difference between a jail, prison, and correctional facility? (Or something like that)

Xox wrote: "André wrote: "I think that it's kind of pointless to debate death penalty while the process of deciding who is guilty or innocent is so flawed."

We debate it because it still exists. Even if you a..."

What I mean is that as you said we could debate if the state has the right to enforce death penalty, but this should only be discussed in theory when together with a system that is as close to fail-proof as possible.
As long as the miscarriage of justice(as has been pointed out) and other things still happen I think the death penalty shouldn't even be considered an option.

Sheeky wrote: "Unrelated question: Is there really a difference between a jail, prison, and correctional facility? (Or something like that)"

Yes.

Would you like me to elaborate? lol

Jessi wrote: "Sheeky wrote: "Unrelated question: Is there really a difference between a jail, prison, and correctional facility? (Or something like that)"

Yes.

Would you like me to elaborate? lol"

Please do. It's confusing!!!!

Anna wrote: "Someone asked is there a difference between a jail, a prison and a correctional facility. I'm just reading an article in The Guardian now where it says that a brutal guide to punishing young offend..."

Oh my.

I definitely do not support the death penalty. Mostly because so many innocent people have been put to death. Civilized nations of this world have stopped using it. Well, all the civilized nations except America.

Well, America (and Americans) certainly has a talent for being hypocritical.

by the way nathan I can really see now why you call these (fundie) Christians idiots.

That story strikes me as quite amusing. Ha ha. I laughed out loud.