White supremacist executed for Texas dragging

[Elok]

It's only vaguely related, but here's something fun about utilitarianism: http://www.economist.com/node/21530078

[Jon Miller]

Expected.

JM

[Kidlicious]

Actually it's scary. Another reason not to talk to real people about politics.

[notyoueither]

Does this mean giving victims what they want? And they want revenge.

It's more taking into account the future suffering of victims and their families.

I put a very low (near zero) value on cries for heads (revenge). I put a high value on the families of this fvck
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Bernardo
not having to endure a life time of parole hearings, book deals, and memorabilia sales.

[Elok]

'Course, for every Paul Bernardo it seems there are two Troy Davises. And we knew in advance we didn't have enough evidence to kill him. He's dead now anyway.

[DinoDoc]

'Course, for every Paul Bernardo it seems there are two Troy Davises. And we knew in advance we didn't have enough evidence to kill him.

Did we? He was given a hearing in 2010 where the judge called the efforts to upset the conviction largely smoke and mirrors based on what they presented at the time.

[Aeson]

I am amazed that people don't think punishment exists.

If we don't believe in punishment, then we shouldn't send people to prison and shouldn't give people fines and so on. Everything should be decided based on what will rehabilitate, and not based on punishing.

Not true. Punishment isn't necessary to justify jail or fines. My own preferences for example:

Jail should only be for those who have proven that they pose a physical risk of harm to society or specific members of it. It should be until such time as they can prove they no longer pose that risk.
Every other "guilty" should be fines, not to punish, but to recoup damages and law enforcement costs. (Jail should be paid for by the prisoner, either out of their pocket or through labor in jail.)

[notyoueither]

'Course, for every Paul Bernardo it seems there are two Troy Davises. And we knew in advance we didn't have enough evidence to kill him. He's dead now anyway.

The fact that the system in some US states is ****ed up is not an argument against the DP any more than the state of your nation is an argument against democracy,

[notyoueither]

Not true. Punishment isn't necessary to justify jail or fines. My own preferences for example:

Jail should only be for those who have proven that they pose a physical risk of harm to society or specific members of it. It should be until such time as they can prove they no longer pose that risk.
Every other "guilty" should be fines, not to punish, but to recoup damages and law enforcement costs. (Jail should be paid for by the prisoner, either out of their pocket or through labor in jail.)

That would work really well, or not.

[Dinner]

The fact that the system in some US states is ****ed up is not an argument against the DP any more than the state of your nation is an argument against democracy,

The problem is there isn't an American system. There are 50 different systems some of which are very good and then there is others which aren't (mostly in the South).

[Hauldren Collider]

The problem is there isn't an American system. There are 50 different systems some of which are very good and then there is others which aren't (mostly in the South).

You're just a knee-jerk Dixie hater. The south seems to be having the least governmental problems--your state is the one with record budget deficits, meaningless gerrymandered elections, overpopulated prisons, sky-high taxes and massive unemployment. I don't see that in most southern states.

[Dinner]

So of the last two innocent men to be executed (which both happened last week) one was in Texas and one was in Georgia. But if I mention that fact, the fact that southern states have the weakest systems for making sure innocent men don't get executed, then I'm just a Dixie hater? Well reasoned kid, well reasoned.

[Dinner]

And for some reason the roll eyes smilies isn't showing up in that post.

[giblets]

So of the last two innocent men to be executed (which both happened last week) one was in Texas and one was in Georgia. But if I mention that fact, the fact that southern states have the weakest systems for making sure innocent men don't get executed, then I'm just a Dixie hater? Well, reasoned kid, well reasoned.

Yes, and California's budget deficit is somehow relevant to this discussion.

[Hauldren Collider]

Yes, and California's budget deficit is somehow relevant to this discussion.

Perhaps not, but what about the fact that they had to release thousands of prisoners because of their inhumane, overcrowded prison system?