Your welcome White Rose. I always like to read different aspects of opinions on touchy subjects.

__________________

That's so true, i always like to hear all the possible opinions. In some cases i change the way how i think about a point. But when it comes to death penalty, im sure i will never change my mind. Im against!!!!!!!

Thanks for sharing Whiterose!

__________________
Beneath the make up & Behind the smile
I'm just a girl who wishes for the world
(Marilyn Monroe)

It is always good to know what some one who disagrees or in this case takes a extreme view . Where they come form who they are what they get their ideas from and maybe Why . It is easier to dispute them .
The idea that a innocent person has not been executed is a mathematical improbability. To bleivethat one has tobelive that the governemnt is perfect.
Nothing made by humans so far has ever been perfect .
Thre are a few cases where it is a very real probability a innocent person has been executed . Following the pro reasoning or lack of if it if it is found a innocent person was executed should we not then execute all those responsible it is a then after all a premeditated homicide not "mistake" . It is interesting that a lot of Pro are "conservatives" who say they want to limit government " yet want to give it tremendous police powers that would rival the former Soviet Union.
I noticed when ever a "conservative" gets into legal troubles the discover the Bill of Rights and become very "liberal" on it very fast. They also find out how nice it is to have a high powered attorney the make fun of and use as scapegoats to pass knee or reactionary laws to lessen all of our rights .

__________________
If the storm doesn't kill me
the government will

REM

Yes I agree. It’s always good to hear the other side of the topic. That’s what I REALLY enjoy about WAP is we do seem to recognize the voices of all. There are definitely people from every walk of life on this forum and you could NEVER label this site as completely "pro felon" or "anti victim". It’s a good thing. Everyone has a voice and should be allowed to speak their mind and express their views with impunity.

__________________
"Thats it then, they will go on double, secret, probation..."

In some cases I am pro-death penalty because what can you do to someone already serving life without parole? My heart dont bleed for those people who kill over and over. In fact my cousin is doing time with a white guy who came in with a 10 year sentence and now he has several life sentences, several 90, 75 year ones and says eventually he will kill in prison again in hopes of getting the DP, so have at it.

Exactly. ....................

__________________
this mod needs coffee

Another thing about that is when I think of "prison" for some reason I always imagine it as being a place where people are incarcerated for very serious felonies like murder (1+2), rape, assault and battery and other typically violent crimes. I tend to associate a long prison sentence with hurting or killing another human being. But we all know this is not the case and especially now in the US with these drug convictions and people doing serious stretches when perhaps what they really need is drug counseling/rehabilitation facilities? Not to minimize the impact that drugs and alcohol can have on a free society but we just don’t have the space anymore for all that nonsense. I’m sure I’m over simplifying the issue however…

__________________
"Thats it then, they will go on double, secret, probation..."

Asha you would be surprised at what people are in prison for . Not only that but you would be surprised at how many things are felonies almost all felonies will get you a prison sentence . . A large percentage I forget off hand what , of the prison population was convicted of a non violent felony . The interesting thing is they have the highest recidivism rate not a violent felony . Murder overall has the lowest recidivism rate and are the most successful on parole . drug and alcohol related offenses have the highest recidivism rate . Yeah they need help and a number of different options that will work best for that person currently we typical us AA type programs which have a 95 % drop out rate before one year . This s not due to lack of desire or effort but because 12 step programs are not working for those people . Another things is we fail totally to address why a person abuses a any given substance that is the first thing we need to do is find out why and go from there. . Then I often think no matter what the crime is there is now a large number of people with vested interest in keep at great taxpayer expense , our prisons full and not solving the problems that lead to crime. Things become a near unbreakable cycle .

__________________
If the storm doesn't kill me
the government will

REM

Very true ASE. If there was an easy solution to it, chances are someone else would have already put it into practice. If another nation had found the "magic recipe" then chances are, we would be bringing this up as well. It’s very easy to point fingers of course BUT it always is more difficult to find real solutions that work for a population the size of this country. I do agree with you that drug and rehab facilities might be a band aid approach and not really prevent anything long term. Not to mention how many murders and serious felonies are actually induced by one's substance abuse? So I can clearly see both sides of the debate and am sympathetic. I guess sometimes I just feel like where are all these people going to go and I can’t keep visualizing it building up and up the way it is without serious repercussions throughout society....Right now I can see it as a game of “Jenga” and we are balancing it but how long will that last just from a logistical standpoint?

__________________
"Thats it then, they will go on double, secret, probation..."

Not to pick on TX but it is a example of where things end up with massive prison and corrections bureaucracy that is eating up tax money at a prodigious rate to the point it can no longer be sustained . TX is to the point of no return either they start changing the way they do things or the will be broke . Yes we seem to put temporary fixes on things . and have lots of do nothing feel good laws . We simply cannot incarcerate our way out of our many social problems that are a factor in crime . The problem is it will take the citizens of the US to want things to change . Then find a number of methods that work there is not a simple solution . I ma not sure how many violent crimes and homicides are the result of substance abuse I am sure it is a good amount .
Another problem is a lot of things that would help are labeled as "soft on crime " To me it has become a meaningless epithet tossed out for political gain .
We can also lok at CA and it's very powerful law enforcement and corrections officer Union it is very difficult to get elected in CA with out their blessing and then "owing " them " a Guard in CA can make up to $ 75 ,000 a year tat is not rank either ! and the y want more and more and more .There never seems to be enough for the prison industry all at taxpayer expense and if any one objects they are called soft on crime and anti cop. Taxpayers do not exisit to provide high paying jobs for those who would be flipping burgers A guard job does jot require a degree or and real skills . This is a huge part of the problem a lot of that money could be better spent on many other things such as breaking our dependence on oil for starters
If we continue down the road we are on we will become a prison nation in the next 50 years . We can't be making everything that annoys us and is unpleasant felony or even a crime and we cannot be locking people up for extremely long times unless they really should be .Not because we are mad at them .

__________________
If the storm doesn't kill me
the government will

REM