My Last Issue of The Economist
I'm letting this subscription lapse. But I must say the magazine has brought up some interesting nuggets to think about, and the latest issue is no exception.
The magazine comments about the American use of the death penalty. The statistics say executions are down and the public support for the death penalty is down as well. It might be a fitting punishment for the the worst murders, but does it make sense.
Evidence that murders are down where murderers are subject to the death penalty doesn't fly. The death penalty does a poor job of deterring murders. Maybe a few murders are avoided, but its also possible that a few innocents can be convicted of murders and to execute them wrongly is a mistake that can't be corrected.
The process to avoid mistakes is very expensive and drawn out over many years and the newer more "humane" executions might not be so humane if you are to believe those that are unsure about the use of drugs for executions. Even getting these drugs is getting more difficult.
There are studies that show all the related problems and lawyer expenses make the process a lot more expensive than just locking them up for life.
One way or another it seems the idea of the electric chair or death by injection as a punishment may be on the way out.
The magazine comments about the American use of the death penalty. The statistics say executions are down and the public support for the death penalty is down as well. It might be a fitting punishment for the the worst murders, but does it make sense.
Evidence that murders are down where murderers are subject to the death penalty doesn't fly. The death penalty does a poor job of deterring murders. Maybe a few murders are avoided, but its also possible that a few innocents can be convicted of murders and to execute them wrongly is a mistake that can't be corrected.
The process to avoid mistakes is very expensive and drawn out over many years and the newer more "humane" executions might not be so humane if you are to believe those that are unsure about the use of drugs for executions. Even getting these drugs is getting more difficult.
There are studies that show all the related problems and lawyer expenses make the process a lot more expensive than just locking them up for life.
One way or another it seems the idea of the electric chair or death by injection as a punishment may be on the way out.
Last night Oklahoma had two executions scheduled. News reports indicated that the method of administering the drugs and not the drugs themselves failed during the execution. The second execution has been postponed.
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