“Less government is better.”
That is what I’ve stated in my posts. I don’t support more government interference, far from that.
We already prosecute drug users and drug traffickers. Everyone deserves a chance to change their ways. But when criminal behaviors are threatening to public safety AND national security - just like treason - I’m in favor of capital punishment.
Not exactly. You don't support a new government program or government involvement in a completely new area. But your solution will lead to more government and will strengthen the government.
The power to execute a human being is a tremendous one, arguably the greatest power a state can have. Currently, our government(s) only execute people under certain circumstances; murder, treason, etc. You would add a new circumstance to that list. Therefore, you would be enhancing the scope of the (admittedly preexisting) power of the government to execute some of its citizens.
What's more, there is a rather long court process involved with an execution. The criminal must first be sentenced at a trial, where they are often provided with legal counsel paid for by the state. Then they are given a certain amount of appeals which can often last for several years. All the while the condemned man is housed, clothed, fed, watched, and medically cared for by the state...which ultimately means from our tax dollars. Your solution would drastically increase the amount of times this publicly-funded process occurs.
I don't object to the operation of the court system when it is needed, and it often is. Nor do I always object to an increase in the power of the state. But if there's an alternative which can achieve the same results WITHOUT adding to the power of the state and the burden on the taxpayer, I think we should choose that alternative every time.
We already prosecute drug users and drug traffickers. Everyone deserves a chance to change their ways. But when criminal behaviors are threatening to public safety AND national security - just like treason - I’m in favor of capital punishment.
What if we can address those threats without resorting to capital punishment? For example, by getting our enemies out of the matter entirely?