yep,since 1976 - now the conundrum- were we right then or are we right now? I'll go along with what they did in '59..................................:lol::lol::lol:
Ha, ha...you sneaked it in again, JLM (beat me to it)...I might get a local shop to make me a "Things Were Fine in '59" shirt...If I do, I promise I'll take a picture and post it because I know SirJP (and others) will want to see it! I think "Bring Back The Good Old Days" would work pretty well on the back of it...
Of course, everyone thinks that they are right, at this moment in time. I have no problem with that...it's kind of like having confidence in something - or standing up for what you believe in. I'm usually fairly clear on what I believe in (and why), but I am not all that sure, in this case. I've been reading all the posts - and there are some really good ones - on the subject and I keep going back and forth on my position...jeez, this and the bloody UFO one are bugging me...
I'm trying to get back to the basics...is the point of dealing with a murderer to punish him/her, or to keep them from doing it again, or both. Or more?
For sure, the death penalty would keep them from doing it again (obviously), and I still think it would be a cheaper way to deal with things...housing prisoners costs money. And, punishment would definitely be in order here, as it there has to be some kind of deterrent to show people that murder isn't acceptable. Is there some other alternative to capital punishment and jail time (as we know it today)?
Some think that capital punishment isn't really the ultimate - some would say that it lets the person "off too easily."
Hmm...here's another approach that was once used and probaby still is somewhere...the old "licence plate" and/or hard labour thing. What if the convicted offender were made to do something - like work - that would be productive and give some real benefits back to society? There are people out there who have to work very hard to just survive, and they're "free"...i.e., not criminals.
So why shouldn't a convicted murderer have to work harder than that? Why should we house them in comfy jails, feed them, and ask nothing in return? What are taking away from them? Freedom? Yeah, freedom from having responsiblities like having to worry about where the next meal is coming from. There is something wrong with that picture, in my opinion. What about the struggling people out there - some seniors - who can't heat their homes properly? Jeez, a convict doesn't have to worry about that either. In fact, I don't think they have to worry about much at all. Is that punishment? Is that justice?
Yeah, you are likely quite right...back to '59...why not "work it out of them?" Make them sweat, make them appreciate how hard life can really be for some, and how one can get their attitude adjusted in a major way by having to work so hard that they will remember why they're doing it, and why they'll never want to make that mistake again. I'm talking about the mistake that put them there.
What kind of work could they do? Well, let's see...cleaning up the highways and byways would be a good start. Possibility of escape? Naw, armed guards and chains would take care of that. Oh my God! Chain gangs? In this day and age? You bet! And think of the fresh air and exercise they'd get, no charge!
I'm sure there are many other possiblities for "rehabilitative work" that could be done...just think of the worst, most undesirable tasks that exist and you'd have a damn good start. And never mind fooling around with computers and such...I'm talking about hard, difficult, dirty, physcial labour. Lots of it!
Of course, this is all a "win-win" scenario.
The offender wins because he/she is learning the tough consequences of killing someone. A valuable lesson. And they get all that exercise too. Physical fitness is a wonderful thing. Besides, they'd get paid for the work...minus deductions for housing and food, etc. A small portion of their pay would be held back and paid to them upon their release...another helpful thing for them to become a good member of society.
The public wins. They get some value for the money it takes to feed, house, and care for (including medical) the criminals...it's in the work output.
Sure, this wouldn't necessarily deter everyone from committing murder in the future but we'd still need people to continue to do all that work anyway...
Now what else could we add to the job list?...
