• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Report: US Ranks 5th in Global Executions

RDS

DP Veteran
Joined
Oct 21, 2009
Messages
5,398
Reaction score
1,323
Location
Singapore
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Undisclosed
U.S. joins the top execution club. I would rank U.S. 1st because of it's mistaken convictions.

(NEW YORK) The United States was the only Western democracy that executed prisoners last year, even as an increasing number of U.S. states are moving to abolish the death penalty, Amnesty International announced Monday.

America's 43 executions in 2011 ranked it fifth in the world in capital punishment, the rights group said in its annual review of worldwide death penalty trends. U.S. executions were down from 46 a year earlier. "If you look at the company we're in globally, it's not the company we want to be in: China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq," Suzanne Nossel, executive director of Amnesty International USA, told The Associated Press.



Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2110239,00.html#ixzz1qKEJuDod
 
Last edited:
Because we seem to lead the world in self-aggrandizing, entitled, soul-less, poorly-reared idiots.
 
USA! USA!

:3oops:
 
Because we seem to lead the world in self-aggrandizing, entitled, soul-less, poorly-reared idiots.

We rank 5th in executions because "we seem to lead the world in self-aggrandizing, entitled, soul-less, poorly-reared idiots?"

You don't make any sense.
 
U.S. joins the top execution club. I would rank U.S. 1st because of it's mistaken convictions.

If it didn't take 10-20 years to execute many of those criminals we could be number one or two. I am sure scumbag sympathizers will see being one of the top 5 as a bad thing.
 
****ing pathetic.
 
I think we should go for the gold here and try for number #1.
 
U.S. joins the top execution club. I would rank U.S. 1st because of it's mistaken convictions.

The top 4 are guesstimates.

Additionally, the comparison of crimes between the top 4 and the USA is stunning: political dissent, homosexuality, sorcery, adultery, etc vs murder.
 
If it didn't take 10-20 years to execute many of those criminals we could be number one or two. I am sure scumbag sympathizers will see being one of the top 5 as a bad thing.

I don't understand why the death penalty is so popular, I don't see how it accomplishes anything. As you say it can take decades to put into affects, the costs of keeping a prisoner alive for that time plus legal costs to the government cost far far far more than keeping him alive for life. And it doesn't seem to deter any of the crimes that can bring the death penalty.

Moral arguments aside, what are the practical reasons for the death penalty?
 
I don't understand why the death penalty is so popular, I don't see how it accomplishes anything. As you say it can take decades to put into affects, the costs of keeping a prisoner alive for that time plus legal costs to the government cost far far far more than keeping him alive for life. And it doesn't seem to deter any of the crimes that can bring the death penalty.

Moral arguments aside, what are the practical reasons for the death penalty?

it provides members of society a false sense that we are actually doing something to mitigate criminality
 
I don't understand why the death penalty is so popular, I don't see how it accomplishes anything. As you say it can take decades to put into affects, the costs of keeping a prisoner alive for that time plus legal costs to the government cost far far far more than keeping him alive for life. And it doesn't seem to deter any of the crimes that can bring the death penalty.

Moral arguments aside, what are the practical reasons for the death penalty?
The ultimate punishment for committing the most heinous of crimes.
 
it provides members of society a false sense that we are actually doing something to mitigate criminality

Or perhaps it culls the herd and creates needed prison space for that endless stream of n'er do wells that we produce in countless thousands by the day.
 
I don't understand why the death penalty is so popular, I don't see how it accomplishes anything. As you say it can take decades to put into affects, the costs of keeping a prisoner alive for that time plus legal costs to the government cost far far far more than keeping him alive for life. And it doesn't seem to deter any of the crimes that can bring the death penalty.

Moral arguments aside, what are the practical reasons for the death penalty?

The ultimate punishment for committing the most heinous of crimes.

That's a moral argument. Do you not know the difference between morality and practicality?

Personally I agree with the moral argument for the death penalty, but its just not a pragmatic punishment in that it accomplishes nothing regarding deterrence of crime or cost effectiveness. It only satisfies the moral demands of some people and some victims, but not all by a long shot.
 
If it didn't take 10-20 years to execute many of those criminals we could be number one or two. I am sure scumbag sympathizers will see being one of the top 5 as a bad thing.

It is terrible to sympathize with those mistakenly executed. Those bastards.

:coffeepap
 
Or perhaps it culls the herd and creates needed prison space for that endless stream of n'er do wells that we produce in countless thousands by the day.

Perhaps we needlessly imprison too many people.

:coffeepap
 
The great irony is that so many "pro-life" conservatives are also pro-death ... penalty. At least the Catholic Church is consistent in that regard.
 
The great irony is that so many "pro-life" conservatives are also pro-death ... penalty. At least the Catholic Church is consistent in that regard.

There's no irony at all. Innocent life doesn't deserve death. Convicted criminals who have earned death - deserve death. The difference is the life in the womb hasn't done anything wrong except exist. If you can't figure that out without resorting to "irony" talking points, I can't help you.
 
There's no irony at all. Innocent life doesn't deserve death. Convicted criminals who have earned death - deserve death. The difference is the life in the womb hasn't done anything wrong except exist. If you can't figure that out without resorting to "irony" talking points, I can't help you.

Unless the innocent life is wrongly convicted.
 
The unborn cannot be wrongly convicted, and convicted by whom?

But others can be. It is a real problem with the death penalty. There are other problem, but those who favor it seem to be able to accept innocent life being lost.
 
I think the best pragmatic reason against the death penalty is that innocents get indeed wrongly convicted and executed. Even the best systems has flaws. If they got a different sentence, this error could be made up by releasing and compensating them -- you can't do that with dead people and innocent blood will be on your hands.
 
But others can be. It is a real problem with the death penalty.
This is addressed via a very long and comprehensive appeals process for death row, which is commonly 20+ years. And it's worth pointing out, convictions are not perfect in any area, so your issue is with the legal system which is not perfect. Using your logic, you'd want to also abolish the legal system, correct?

There are other problem, but those who favor it seem to be able to accept innocent life being lost.
Not sure I understand what you mean.
 
There's no irony at all. Innocent life doesn't deserve death. Convicted criminals who have earned death - deserve death. The difference is the life in the womb hasn't done anything wrong except exist. If you can't figure that out without resorting to "irony" talking points, I can't help you.

Really? See I thought that was GOD's decision? I mean, if man killing man is okie dokie (thou shalt not kill anyone?) then what is your claim to moral superiority in killing someone who's been convicted of a crime -- but who, after all, may not be guilty?

I guess ironic was the wrong word. Hypocritical would be the right word.
 
Back
Top Bottom