Saddam hangs

I hear this line of questioning and argument all the time. Self preservation is in the fabric of our being. If it came down to you or my family and I going six feet under you best say your prayers son. State sanctioned killing and killing in the process of defending ones self are mutually exclusive. I mean what's the rational behind state sanctioned killing besides saving the state inmate related expenses (which by the way can be recouped and then some if inmates were forced to work)?

I wouldn't say they are mutually exclusive. I think JoeRedskin explained quite eloquently how the two are related.

Even though I support the death penalty, I would draw a distinction between self defense carried out under exigent circumstances and defense of the State by carrying out the death penalty.

Self defense taken against a present threat posing imminent danger to myself or others would be something like a guy busting down my door and waving a gun at my family or, in my line of work, someone pulling a gun on me at a traffic stop. I've never heard someone argue against killing in that situation, unless they are a true pacifist.

I think you could argue that execution is done in defense of the country, but it's not done to eliminate an imminent threat. Once the person is behind bars the immediate danger is eliminated. Defense of the country in cases like our response to Pearl Harbor is certainly self defense, and certainly done to face an imminent threat.

Just gotta post my two cents on capital punishment:

1. The government should NEVER have the power to kill it's own people -- too much power for the gov't.

2. People make mistakes. Therefore, it will always be possible to execute an innocent man. How can anyone argue FOR capital punishment when innocent men will die? Simple -- you just can't.

Let me go on the record and say I think we, America, executed Saddam.
Yes, he was hung in Iraq by Iraqis, but his blood is on our hands.

And 25 Million people in Iraq thank us.

And 25 Million people in Iraq thank us.

Hahaha, I must be reading the wrong things because those Iraqis still seem pretty mad at us to me.

Just gotta post my two cents on capital punishment:

1. The government should NEVER have the power to kill it's own people -- too much power for the gov't.

2. People make mistakes. Therefore, it will always be possible to execute an innocent man. How can anyone argue FOR capital punishment when innocent men will die? Simple -- you just can't.

Our current system is a joke. What is your suggestion?

And 25 Million people in Iraq thank us.

You can't really believe this is true.

Well, this thread has evolved as expected. Perhaps the concern being shed for a dude who wacked??????? 100,000+ people could be more usefully spent on the vic's and families of same, or their rights

Well, this thread has evolved as expected. Perhaps the concern being shed for a dude who wacked??????? 100,000+ people could be more usefully spent on the vic's and families of same, or their rights

And we're done ...

And we're done ...

Yeah, it may be time for Matty to shut his own thread down.

Hahaha, I must be reading the wrong things because those Iraqis still seem pretty mad at us to me.

They should be. We screw up their country, and now they basically have a civil war brewing. Then we execute the one guy that held these two opposing groups at bay.

We have a way of interpreting what we deem to be peace and a civilized community for other countries. It's really unfortunate we put all of our eggs in one basket with Iraq, because now Syria and Iran, and to some extent North Korea have taken note that we've used a lot of political capital and they are most certainly going to continue to pursue their 'programs'.