Well, Like him or hate him....

[mitchiejim]

I suspect in the coming days, there will be a big media stink about the execution of Crips founder and convicted murderer Stanly "Tookie" Williams. I thought I would weigh in with my thoughts, mostly because I alwayss like to hear waht other people have to say about this and other pressing issues of the day

Comments

[allergictohope]

Hey mitch...well, here's what I think. As john locke, an 18th century philosopher who devised the basic principles of modern democratic society, states "government is an entity that upholds its laws upon the penalty of death." So, to those who say the death penalty is un-american or un-democratic, you are sadly mistaken. However, I feel that as our society has progressed, and as our justice system has been reformed to the point at which the death penalty is no longer needed.
John Ashcroft, former attorney general, said that the assisted suicide provision 'death with dignity' "...turns federalism on its head...and makes sure the federal government helps kill people!" If this law, which was ratified TWICE was re-neged by the federal government because it ensures governmental support in 'killing people,' then surely the death penalty fits the EXACT same criteria. It's odd that the government will kill you, but it will not let you willingly recieve help to kill yourself legally. huh.
I won't begin to raise the point of 'playing God,' since there is no factual way to prove or disprove the practice. As a citizen of the united states, however, we are granted 'unalianable rights,' 'life' being one of them. The legality of the death penalty is by these terms uncertain, to say the least.
However, my most compelling point to stop the death penalty comes down to something ALL rational people can identify with - dollars and cents. The following is fact and cannot be argued...sanely.
These stats are from ONLY California, and most are for one year.

# The California death penalty system costs taxpayers more than $114 million a year beyond the cost of simply keeping the convicts locked up for life. (This figure does not take into account additional court costs for post-conviction hearings in state and federal courts, estimated to exceed several million dollars.)

# With 11 executions spread over 27 years, on a per execution basis, California and federal taxpayers have paid more than $250 million for each execution.

# It costs approximately $90,000 more a year to house an inmate on death row, than in the general prison population or $57.5 million annually.

# The Attorney General devotes about 15% of his budget, or $11 million annually to death penalty cases.

# The California Supreme Court spends $11.8 million annually on appointed counsel for death row inmates.

# The Office of the State Public Defender and the Habeas Corpus Resource Center spend a total of $22.3 million on defense for indigent defendants facing death.

# The federal court system spends approximately $12 million on defending death row inmates in federal court.

Therefore, we have set the price of Tookie Williams life at $250 million dollars. Is that scumbucket worth it? fuck no. I don't care how many childrens books that asshole writes, he's still a murder and needs to pay for his crime. However, i feel he can pay for it by rotting in a prison cell, unable to be paroled, until he dies. The death penalty system costs taxpayers too much money for a result that can be disputed into eternity with no right or wrong answer. When it comes down to facts, there aren't many within this emotionally heated debate, so we must rely on what we have. Because of the previous facts, I must declare that the death penalty is ineffient, and beyond that, ineffective at DETERRING crime. Therefore, upon a factualy and logical basis, the death penalty has no place in American Society.

Wow. If you read this, i commend you. I should really get some effing sleeping pills.

[mitchiejim]

Haha, I actually DID read it all. You make many very compelling points. Perhaps we could agree to disagree that the appeals system could be partially at fault for the high cost of death row inmates? After all, a high percentage of the figures cited above reveal not just the high cost of killing an inmate, but the high cost of an inmate trying to save his ass in an appeals court. It would just be easier if people didn't commit crimes at all.

Also, for the record, I support doctor assisted suicide. If you don't want to live anymore, far be it from me to keep you here.

P.S. When do you get home from Christmas, and let's hang out!

[allergictohope]

I'm back! wooo! And yes, ALL the costs pretty much stem from the appeals process. Stupid people trying to stay alive...just accept your fate, come on.