General Discussion

appal_jack

(3,813 posts)

9. I am reminded of something I heard on TV from an inmate

Wed Jul 23, 2014, 11:27 PM

Jul 2014

Last edited Thu Jul 24, 2014, 01:40 AM - Edit history (1)

I am reminded of something I heard on TV from an inmate who was serving a life sentence without the chance for parole: "I'm basically serving a slow death penalty." For a truly evil and hardened criminal, that 'slow death penalty' sounds like an appropriate punishment.

But I oppose the actual (i.- 'quick') death penalty because it is barbaric, because our government should be better than the murderers it punishes, and because it costs more than imprisoning our worst criminals for life sentences. Also, imprisoning our worst offenders for life without parole seems like a deeper, more substantial punishment, giving the perpetrator time to reflect on the harm done by the crime.

But most of all, I oppose the death penalty vs life without parole because if the jury happens to get it wrong, and the wrong guy got locked up for someone else's crime, we can set things to right. The actual death penalty does not allow that.

We humans are imperfect, and we must design our justice systems to be resilient and humane within that imperfection.

-app

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

31 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

If This Is Allowed To Stand... Kiss Your Constitution (Country) Good-Bye... [View all] WillyT Jul 2014 OP

I Don't Care How Horrible His Crimes Were... Are WE Supposed To Be Cyphers To The Constitution ?? WillyT Jul 2014 #1

Set them out in the deep woods and chase them down with a Predator drone DJ13 Jul 2014 #2

Oh Believe Me... That Would Be The Greatest Reality Show Ever !!! WillyT Jul 2014 #3

I suspect there are sickos who would pay to hunt them. Hoyt Jul 2014 #29

Death penalty is a freak show man. Gools and sadists love it. As we spend all that dough so they lonestarnot Jul 2014 #4

But they better not call themselves "pro-life." calimary Jul 2014 #13

Oh but they do. lonestarnot Jul 2014 #23

And we have to start re-educating America about this concept. "Pro-LIFE"? Seriously? Let's look: calimary Jul 2014 #24

Exactly. This should be an OP, it's so good. People who say they're pro-life are hypocrites. Louisiana1976 Jul 2014 #27

It has taken way to long JEB Jul 2014 #5

True. And she's not just a witch--she's a witch with a capital B, as we used to say when I Louisiana1976 Jul 2014 #28

Not acceptable. nt Nuclear Unicorn Jul 2014 #6

Horrifying! countryjake Jul 2014 #7

It's not about who he was, it's about who we are. ThoughtCriminal Jul 2014 #8

Whoever said it, it's a great to-the-point way of expressing it. Gidney N Cloyd Jul 2014 #10

I am reminded of something I heard on TV from an inmate appal_jack Jul 2014 #9

"Wrong guy got locked up for someone else's crime, we can set things to right. The death penalty nomorenomore08 Jul 2014 #22

If I see one more "I have no sympathy for him" post on DU I'm going to stroke out. Gidney N Cloyd Jul 2014 #11

+1 It's mind blowing. Ed Suspicious Jul 2014 #19

Unnacceptable. Dawson Leery Jul 2014 #12

Sorry to inform you Willy T...... DeSwiss Jul 2014 #14

Only in America can these so call pro life fuckers onecaliberal Jul 2014 #15

So they gave the man Versed and Dilaudid Seedersandleechers Jul 2014 #16

It won't be. babylonsister Jul 2014 #17

Jan Brewer doesn't seem to understand how a civilized society generally runs its sabrina 1 Jul 2014 #18

What is this obsession with "Two Wrongs" simple fallacy? defacto7 Jul 2014 #20

Republicans treat the Constitution same as they do the Bible. Kablooie Jul 2014 #21

PLUS ONE, a whole bunch! Enthusiast Jul 2014 #30

Deregulated capitalism is going to kill us all. Initech Jul 2014 #25

And Brewer makes our case for us, that the death penalty is REVENGE and nothing more Scootaloo Jul 2014 #26

First off, fuck that guy. PeteSelman Jul 2014 #31