I'm generally against the death penalty.
It's not necessarily that it's wrong to kill someone that deserves it; that doesn't sound like the ultimate evil to me. I just don't think the US judicial system is accurate enough to make that determination — or anything close to it. It's definitely a working system, just not accurate enough to inflict death. When the system learns it was inaccurate (which it does with alarming frequency), it releases the convicted from prison. You can't give someone their life back if you execute them...
It's just not worth it. We're wrong too often.
That said, there are some things for which I would vote in favor of the death penalty, but as far as I know none of them are even against any law.
1. People should be executed (after a fair trial) for going 80% of the posted speed limit. In an unposted speed zone, you should go 60 miles per hour. I suspect the usual excuse for going 45 in a 55 (unposted) is not knowing the speed limit. Well, in my system it'd be safe to go 55 just in case — or risk certain death in traffic court. Why someone would go 45mph in a posted 55mph zone is a total mystery. I like to assume it has something to do with engine trouble, but that would mean some 10% of the cars on the road are unable to go 55mph. I find that somewhat unlikely.
Let me put it another way: I lose about twelve minutes (and that's generous) on each trip to and from work, five times per week, fifty-two weeks per year. (I have carefully measured the difference at 3am numerous times.) I generally sleep for about six hours per night, so that works out to an approximate loss of 5.78 days of my life to people drifting around at 45mph in 55mph zones. I want my entire week of vacation back assholes. Die.
2. People who come to nearly a complete stop and then enter the marked turn lane deserve death. What the hell do these people think those other lanes are for? (Parking would be my guess.) In my system, people would be too afraid of slowing traffic to risk it. They would get out of the way and then stop every time!
I'm sure there are many more, but those were the two that really leaped out at me while I was driving to work this morning.
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1 comment:
THE DEATH PENALTY IS THE PREFERRED VENUE OF THOSE WHO ARE DOING LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE. TRUST ME I KNOW A BUNCH OF THIS SORT AND THIS IS THE THINKING. TRY BEING 25, HAVING ALREADY DONE 10 YRS. FROM JUVIE TIL NOW AND THE PROSPECT OF ANOTHER 50 YRS. IN THE HERE AND NOW NEVER MORE TO RETURN.
DEATH ROW IS NOT THE STRANGE SILENT PLACE YOU SEE IN THE GREEN MILE OR ANY OTHER HOLLYWOOD FANTASY FLICK. IT IS NOISY AND SMELLS BAD AND THE AVERAGE INMATE SPENDS FROM 10 TO 15 YRS IN THE APPEALS PROCESS BEFORE THE BIG DAY.
AS BAD AS THAT SOUNDS, 50 YRS. IN THE GENERAL POPULATION IS WORSE.
IF PEOPLE REALLY WANT REVENGE OR JUSTICE OR WHATEVER THEY ARE CALLING IT, LIFE BEATS THE CRAP OUT OF THE DEATH VENUE.
ENJOYED YOUR HUMOR BY THE WAY.
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