One third support 'some torture'

[Agafaster]

Hyperspeed wrote:
Imagine it though: you have a box of electrodes, a nipple wrench, a cat 'o nine tails, a thumb screw - and a visitor's pass for the Microsoft headquarters...

:idea:

...then you get there, and the intended victim says 'oooh I have one of those...and one of those...'  :crazy:

[Agafaster]

people will pay for their crimes on the day of judgement.

and if the wronged person doesnt believe in that ?

the rest of your post is reasonable enough, but to quote Einstein:
'an eye for an eye leaves us all blind'.

[Agafaster]

I get on the sleeper to Glasgow tonight, and rape your girlfriend and daughter, then murder them slowly.

Why should I not be put to death?

what if you arent the right person?
espousing the death sentence is one thing, but you have to be really really REALLY sure you actually have the perpetrator, and that the perpetrator really did the things he was accused of.

besides, in the belief systems of those who have no god, or promise of afterlife, sentient life is sacrosanct and precious, and who has the right to take away someone elses life?

[Agafaster]

Karlos wrote:

...

2. How, if you wish to implement the death penalty, do you ensure that no one is ever wrongly convicted?

You can't. No system of justice is perfect.

However, suppose you implemented true life imprisonment. If you lock up an innocent man for his entire life until he dies, other than the time taken for his death, how is it different?

I don't think telling ourselves "well, at least we never killed the poor bugger" is going to appease our conscience over the fact his life was effectively taken from him.

At least if the person incarcerated is found later to be not guilty, he can be released. a posthumous (nearly wrote posthoumus there-an entirely different proposition ;-)) pardon is a pretty small consolation to those left behind, and does no good WHATSOEVER to the wrongly executed person.

[Agafaster]

seconded!

here is a small interlude for uplifting entertainment...

 :juggler:

[Agafaster]

I guess we have to agree to disagree on the subject.

good idea, I think we've done this to death already. :horse:

drink ? :lotsacoffee: