Originally Posted by
Enclave
In the United States, having more inmates means more taxes from citizens. Now, if you abolish private prisons (which many people support), then who's willing to pay more money out of their pocket so the government can hold more prisoners? It's a matter of cost. The death penalty abolishes the need to cause many citizens financial harm, and the death penalty helps deter greater crimes.
this is naive. the US prison system is very serious problem.
if you think any controversial issue is black and white you dont understand it buddy.
the USA currently has the highest incarceration rate to my knowledge. the issue is an issue of law and law enforcement, not of individuals.
the solution you propose to this is to execute people? you're trying to fix an issue by fixing one symptom here. even if they did start killing people left and right, the police still have quotas and will find more people to arrest. prisons still have beds to fill and im sure these 2 massive industries are going to fight for their jobs, even if its inhumane to the rest of us.
also are you sure it would really deter people from crime? people dont typically weigh the risks of their actions when doing something punishable by law. they quite often do not even know there are serious consequences until after the fact. police are hated enough as is by taking people off to jail, but if they start taking people off to an electric chair again... well, it would get very messy indeed.
if it is just a matter of cost like you say then why not throw government mandated eugenics in the mix too? maybe a little forced sterilization for those with inferior genetics? that would save plenty of tax money on people with disabilities...
my response:
do you want a total stranger to have power over your life?
I do not.
I do not believe I should hold that power, and I certainly do not believe anyone else should.
the legal system is run by ordinary people, people who make mistakes, have biases, and have agendas.
laws are made and enforced by people with varying views and beliefs, many of which I do not agree with. there are countless laws, many of which I do not agree with. laws vary based on your location but your knowledge of them does not. some laws are downright unconstitutional. this leaves much to be desired and I do not believe the current system deserves any more power, let alone what it already has.
I dont want to live in an authoritarian dystopia quite yet.
no thanks.