Hear That Sound? It's Feces Hitting the Fan.

[Occhidiangela]

Exactly. The system is flawed. The system is not impartial. How can we trust a flawed and impartial system to decide the fate of peoples' lives? 

++snip some good points on a merciful system++

All I really wanted was a chance to state my opinion and give some reasons for said opinions, not argue with people. I certainly can relate to Occhi's "internet arguing = head + monitor" mathematical relation. A Lounge thread always gives me something to think about, and I appreciate that.
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I took a fascinating course on Crime and Prison Reform about 30 years ago. The mountain of "the state can't do this and that" rules already hamstrings the capacity for the system to control an environment, which is what one needs to create the climate conducive to behavioral change, which is what the end aim is for a criminal's rehabilitation. "If the patient doesn't want to be rehabbed" -- which applies to some -- no amount of money or time will solve it.

The balancing of punishment versus forgiveness versus rehab is also complex and difficult. I think America gave up on all that in the 1990's, opting for the KISS principle.

During the Clinton administration the "three strikes and you are out" and "minimum sentencing" madness was passed as pols tried to "look tough on crime." Our decision makers and certain very vocal advocacy groups made public policy the following: park certain criminals/people in some place out of the way and forget about them.

A bullet is cheaper, but its finality prevents appeals or the uncovering of some "after the fact" evidence that can overturn a wrongful conviction.

Since the great mass (I presume, I may be wrong) of society has little empathy for a convicted felon, I derive from that an indifference to their fates, so I'll go with "the bullet." The only perfect justice, if there is any, is God's, who I note hasn't dropped by lately to perfect any human justice system.

For those believing in God, one bullet and mark the corpse "return to sender." To err is human, to forgive divine. :rolleyes:

For the more secularly minded, one bullet provides a bit more plant food. :shuriken:

Occhi