That could be said about a LOT of people who haven’t been convicted of any crimes. I just don’t think we, as faillible humans, should make ourselves responsible for executing anyone. And isn’t the point that we’re supposed to be better than well, the people who have been convicted? That’s why yes, it does speak well of us to take care of convicts. (And let’s not even get into the fact that the death penalty generally costs MORE than life without parole)
Otherwise, what’s the point? Just throw them all in a dirt hole and forget about them?
When it comes to violent criminals, I’m no bleeding heart. But I think the death penalty goes against the whole “cruel and unusual punishment”.
Oops, obviously I left the turnaround out of that train. But really, the death penalty, and the prison system and the gun ownership culture are how we avoid addressing some really complex problems in our country.
I agree that the death penalty isn’t cruel and unusual punishment if only because the American Early Fathers agreed with the death penalty, and they wrote the damn constitution.
Jefferson, whilst proposing castration for gays, rapists and animal-molesters, felt the death penalty should only apply for treason — an amusing thought * — and murder. He was unhappy regarding the vile system of retaliation ( poisoning poisoners [ in the park ?* ], slitting the faces of those who disfigured others [ not unreasonable, but personally I’d just include it in the death penalty category ] ) but put it in anyway. Bill 64 included gibbeting, the pillory, ducking for witches, and flogging all around. So ‘Cruel and Unusual’ had to be pretty out there in the Framers’ time.
Whipping was in general use for petty offences, of course ( and last administered in the 1950s in America ); so old Tom wouldn’t have considered reserving it to his slaves, whilst dreaming his dreams of freedom.
And they didn’t anticipate lengthy appeals: you were to be topped two days after sentence. Unless it was Sunday of course.
Why isn’t the US a liberal country? If you mean in the sense of largely accepting Enlightenment values of political liberty and egalitarianism it certainly is one-indeed in certain aspects considering we don’t have hate speech laws or bans against hijabs in public schools we are more liberal than many other countries. Of course economically we are the most liberal of any advanced liberal democracy.
