1The Death Penalty
I thought I would touch on this subject because a lot of people are still upset over the Casey Anthony verdict. Casey was up for the death penalty if convicted on murder in the first degree. Many people wanted, and still want to see her dead by the hands of the State of Florida. I, like most people, believe she was involved in her daughter’s death. That is what is referred to as a “no-brainer”. Whether it was accidental or intentional, it’s obvious that she was negligent. Some say that it doesn’t matter whether or not it was intentional - she should still fry. If you ask me, what she did or did not do isn’t the issue. Even if she was proven guilty of murder, beyond the shadow of a doubt, I believe that no government should have the authority to lawfully end someone’s life.
Think about the precedent the death penalty sets. It basically says that our governing body has the authority to decide who lives or dies, based on a level of immorality defined by who…. us? Think again. Consider Middle Eastern countries where one can have his or her hands cut off for stealing, or a woman can be stoned to death because someone raped her. Of course I’m using an extreme example, but it is meant to illustrate the danger in allowing the State to define morality and enforce punishment based on it.
Governments throughout history have proven, time and time again, that if given an inch, they will take at least a mile, probably more like a half marathon. First we give them permission to kill someone because they committed murder, but what’s next? What will stop the government from deciding that grand theft is punishable by death? What about rape? It’s shocking to me, that a society which claims to value life so much, is willing to grant authority that should be exclusive only to God, to a tragically corrupt gang of politicians. Really? The same group of people that has broken our trust in every possible way since its inception is who you want deciding what laws can be punishable by death. Amazing.
A common argument for the death penalty is that we save tax dollars by not having to house and feed murderers for the rest of their lives. Call me old fashioned, but I think keeping dangerous people away from normal society is a perfectly reasonable use of tax dollars. Let’s make a little comparison, shall we?
Average cost per inmate, per year in the U.S. = $23,876
Average cost per soldier in Iraq, per year = roughly $500,000
I’m not a gamblin’ man, but I’d be willing to bet that the same person who would argue against spending tax dollars to keep a criminal alive would be just as eager to justify the staggering cost of keeping a soldier on the ground in the Middle East, whose sole purpose, keep in mind, is to kill. That sure is a funny way of showing that you value life.
Do I believe criminals should be punished? Without a doubt. Do I believe it is the government’s duty to appropriately remove dangerous people from society? Of course, but the power to give and take life should be God’s, and God’s alone. All I’m saying is that the government hasn’t given us any good reason to trust them with our children, property, or even just our money, so I don’t think it is wise to trust them with the power to decide life and death.
Finally some time to write!
I’ve recently undergone a life change which will allow me time to do what I’ve been missing for quite some time - write. Now that I have the time, I’ll actually be able to post articles rather than just reposting videos and political cartoons I found somewhere else. I plan to cover everything, and I mean EVERYTHING (except abortion. too touchy). Once I have some material up I’ll start promoting this thing a bit more and hopefully get some good discussion going.
Godspeed,
Morgan
Found this on the internet today. Obviously it’s not this simple, but at the same time, it kind of is…
Money well spent.
Ahhhh, election season!
We’re fast approaching that glorious time that occurs once every four years - election season. It’s a time that brings the important issues we face to light. It’s a time that allows us, rather, forces us to show our true colors. It’s a time when I share my opinions openly, and lose about a quarter of my Facebook friends. This is a time that gets people thinking, talking, debating, and challenging one another, which is healthy for any republic!
As I’ve said before, my thoughts and opinions are not meant to belittle or attack anyone. I am simply sharing my views, and expect those who wish to join the discussion do so respectfully. Debate is fun! Let’s talk about the issues and keep it clean.
“Historically, the claim of consensus has been the first refuge of scoundrels; it is a way to avoid debate by claiming that the matter is already settled.”
-Michael Crichton
Found this on 9gag.com. Funny, but not really…
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What’s that thing Homer Simpson says when he did something stupid? Oh yeah, “doh!”
