Poll: Death penalty discussion

[Bob the Average]

i support the death penalty. Utilitarian ethics makes the justification pretty straight forward, a murderer has clearly demonstrated blatant disregard for the well being of others and it is probable that he/she will continue to be a detriment to society.

I'm not very well versed on utilitarian ethics, but doesn't saying "and it is probable that he/she will continue to be a detriment to society" disregard any potential rehabilitation?

truthfully I'm not extremely well versed in it either but the basis is that good and bad are based on how pleasure and displeasure. Yes it does ignore rehabilitation however I've never been a big believer in the rehabilitation aspect of prison.

 

[the rye]

Yes, if we threaten criminals with death they are less likely to commit crime, and those who are stupid enough to commit a crime will inevitably pay for it. Another reason we should go through with the Death Penalty is that criminals won't be in prison for as long as they usually are so prisons would be cheaper.

Short: Yes, it reduces crime rate our taxes.

Not necessarily, studies show that states with no death penalty have lower murder rates than states that do have the death penalty, The death penalty isnt a effective deterrent.

 

[The Night Shade]

Yes of course a lot of people need to be punish also i don't think that they are a lot of innocent people in jail

 

[Elburzito]

Yes.

Because death is cheaper on the taxpayer than imprisonment.

Exactly.
It can also be a crime deterrent. I'm probably not the right person to ask, though, considering I tend to favour the 'eye for an eye' policy...

 

[Azure-Supernova]

but doesn't saying "and it is probable that he/she will continue to be a detriment to society" disregard any potential rehabilitation?

This is of course assuming that rehabilitation is an option. If a person committed murder without any justification (self defence, crime of passion, mental instability etc.) then clearly this person is already beyond rehabilitation. Even if they could be rehabilitated, do they deserve to be re-introduced to society?

I think this is a very subjective matter. Of course an eye for an eye really doesn't work every time. There will be genuine cases of murder committed in self defence or due to a mental instability where rehabilitation is an option. But say a man makes the conscious decision to kill or rape a woman simply because he can; are you saying that his humanity remains? As hypocritical as it is to kill a murderer; it's more like putting down a rabid dog than putting down a healthy one.

/opinion

Hope I wasn't too forward with my views.

 

[Rofl-Mayo]

Yes, if we threaten criminals with death they are less likely to commit crime, and those who are stupid enough to commit a crime will inevitably pay for it. Another reason we should go through with the Death Penalty is that criminals won't be in prison for as long as they usually are so prisons would be cheaper.

Short: Yes, it reduces crime rate our taxes.

Not necessarily, studies show that states with no death penalty have lower murder rates than states that do have the death penalty, The death penalty isnt a effective deterrent.

Really? Then I guess a lot of us are misinformed.

 

[luclin92]

put a person behind bars for a long enough time and you would have destroyed most of what he had lived for so put him/her out of their misery.

 

[Ekonk]

Seriously... what's worse? Your life stopping and you feel nothing after that, or you're constantly punished for as long as the law dictates? You kill someone you'll be punished every second of every day for 20 years... is that not a worse punishment than allowing you to stop feeling possible regret?

And btw... Paying a fine is the same as a thief paying back the theft...

This argument is so full of holes. What about a fine for someone who insults a police officer? What's he paying back?

And if you really think death penalty is a blessing compared to being punished for 20 years, why not let them choose, ey? I think I can guess what will be the most picked option.

 

[CrazyCapnMorgan]

I'm going to be a bit cynical here, so excuse me in advance...

Why is death considered to be a penalty? Have you seen what trying to live here is like? Bullshit religion, crap music, boring politics, the illusion of money, purile corporations, never-ending conflicts over timeless squabbles and Jersey Shore. You realize that there is absolutely NOTHING stopping us from ending our own lives? People do it all time, every day in various methods by the hundreds. Sometimes voluntarily. Yet, all people seem to do is either mumble and grumble about meaningless methods and ideas that will offer no REAL solutions, or they will continue to exist in a state of stupor-like acceptance and continue to live in a world where they are made to believe they are powerless to change the situations they are in for the better.

I say, if someone does something that causes you strife, have 'em listen to that god awful Macy Gray song in an infinite cycle until that someone ends their existance on this plane of reality. Unless, they like Macy Gray. Then you make them watch an endless amount of YouTube clips with cute animals doing cutesy type things.

Of course, if you want to kill said person - fine by me. Just make the death somewhat entertaining, record it and put it on YouTube. I subscribe to that kinda stuff.

 

[Stu the Pirate]

Well guys, the time has come for me to go start my paper now. Thanks for the opinions, they accurately and articulately pin down what's been said in just about every other discussion of this nature I've had, and some posts were astonishingly well thought out, and to a certain extent researched. They far exceed what I was expecting from an online forum.

 

[Wapox]

Seriously... what's worse? Your life stopping and you feel nothing after that, or you're constantly punished for as long as the law dictates? You kill someone you'll be punished every second of every day for 20 years... is that not a worse punishment than allowing you to stop feeling possible regret?

And btw... Paying a fine is the same as a thief paying back the theft...

This argument is so full of holes. What about a fine for someone who insults a police officer? What's he paying back?

And if you really think death penalty is a blessing compared to being punished for 20 years, why not let them choose, ey? I think I can guess what will be the most picked option.

This is just why they should be imprisoned instead of being killed... because they WOULD choose death..

 

[Mcupobob]

I'm pro getting rid of useless dangerous people. Thats why we have all the appeals and years of court, sure as hell is expensive but I think its worth it. People rarely ever rehabilitate and even if they did could you forgive them for the crimes they did? Bah, and prisons sure they're a hell hole but those kinds of people thrive there. People who go into prison usually go right back in, and why wouldn't they? They get to be as racist as they want, rape who they want, or even kill who they want. While getting free food, shelter, medical, entertainment and ect ect.

I know the people against it like to argue were all "civilized" now. A society in which we say we do not tolerate at all the actions of committing the crime of dehumanizing someone at all are meet with the consistences of your on very actions done to you, to me seems more appropriate, instead of housing that behavior in a concert hell that is out of sight and out of mine.

Just my food for thoughts.

 

[Radoh]

No deed deserves death, because it's the easy way out.
I want serial killers to sit it out for 20 years (which is arguably a lifetime)

But that's only punishment if they are remorseful, and since they are serial killers it is likely that is not the case.

I believe that if there is no remorse for the crime than death is a suitable alternative to life.

As a side note, my answer was "yes for capital punishment", not "Yay for capital punishment".