tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post2599365862673377224..comments2023-10-21T05:31:04.705-05:00Comments on Merle Widmer's PEORIA WATCH: The Death PenaltyMerle Widmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788275198834985986noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post-83871499068884699752007-06-25T21:38:00.000-05:002007-06-25T21:38:00.000-05:00I must say, Merle, I disagree with you here. I thi...I must say, Merle, I disagree with you here. I think we should always take away as few of a person's rights as is prudent. In the case of a 70-yr old lady who shook her granddaughter to death, I think a secure looney bin or a minimum security prison is appropriate. For a hardened serial killer, but a lone wolf, a life sentence in max-security prison (possibly with a lot of solitary) would probably be appropriate.<BR/><BR/>The only case where I think the reasonable approach is to terminate somebody's life is if the convict will be able to continue directing others to commit crime from within prison, or if he is a bone fide prison escape risk, even in max-security lockdown.<BR/><BR/>As far as I know, it is well known that killing a convicted criminal via capital punishment costs more to taxpayers than incarcerating him for life. A cheaper solution where you don't kill the person (who might be innocent!) sounds like a winner to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post-52908849648327171832007-06-22T18:22:00.000-05:002007-06-22T18:22:00.000-05:00Well said. Thanks for the clarification. Obvious...Well said. Thanks for the clarification. Obviously a very complicated issue (most thinking people would admit, anyway), and it's always refreshing to read differing points of view.<BR/><BR/>Another question I'm left with is why so many conservative stances are set in opposition to perceived liberal self-righteousness. I thought the "right" was supposed to be the party of morality and righteousness, but whenever the left stakes out the moral high ground, the right accuses them of elitism and "trying to set themselves above the crowd".<BR/><BR/>What is your take on this consistent conservative inferiority complex? Why is the left the ideology associated with the elite, when almost all of the true elite are highly conservative? Why is the left accused of moralizing and self-righteousness when the right is more closely associated with traditional religious authority?<BR/><BR/>I would allege that these traits are not confined to either ideology, but you are just as prevalent (if not more so) among conservatives (e.g. the stem cell issue).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post-8644880353257910712007-06-20T22:58:00.000-05:002007-06-20T22:58:00.000-05:00AdamB, I believe sweet Betsy from Pike reflects m...AdamB, <BR/><BR/>I believe sweet Betsy from Pike reflects my feelings.<BR/><BR/>Thanks, BetsyMerle Widmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04267875223386924271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post-67929095977605652202007-06-20T20:56:00.000-05:002007-06-20T20:56:00.000-05:00I couldn't agree with you more, Widmer. It seems ...I couldn't agree with you more, Widmer. It seems like most liberals think warehousing heinous murderers at society's expense makes them feel somehow super-moral and lands them above the crowd. These are the same people who say that all life has value, meaning, validity, purpose, etc. yet desecrate the living with injuring disparagement.<BR/>Have an abortion is acceptable since there is no realized human meaning within the fetus but warehouse the murderer of a family of five until he dies naturally though his purpose in life is equal to the aborted fetus and yet has less potential. And I'm pro-choice...even as it concerns murderous criminals with rap sheets longer than my driveway. If we as a society want to get rid of a killer we should have a choice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post-57622167868003805102007-06-20T18:05:00.000-05:002007-06-20T18:05:00.000-05:00I am actually interested to know why you favor the...I am actually interested to know why you favor the death penalty. But you don't say why.<BR/><BR/>You address several issues besides the death penalty, but never really get around to why you believe in the death penalty and in which situations.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post-5022585531268363542007-06-19T19:40:00.000-05:002007-06-19T19:40:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.AdamBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14625655604759074752noreply@blogger.com