Fla. Girl's Killer Gets Death Sentence

[irishgirl73 0]

I don't think these animals can be rehabilitated-I don't think they deserve 3 meals a day with cable tv I just don't. Do something with the creeps-make their existence somewhat meaningful-use them to find cures for cancer-I don't know

Just wish we could live in a better world-period. I wish we didn't even have to discuss things like this-it is so sad

Edited March 17, 2006 by irishgirl73

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Do something with the creeps-make their existence somewhat meaningful-use them to find cures for cancer-I don't know

That's a variation of an idea that's not entirely new. The last regime that pursued a somewhat similar route did not make it all that far. Nor was it any better a place for entertaining sick ideas like this.

I'll help you out a bit: Germany. The 30's and early 40's. Remember?

Edited March 17, 2006 by ET-US2004

[dalegg 143]

Another thing not mentioned is how many criminals are killed while in prison by convicted murderers who are not sentenced to death. By mixing these killers in the general prison population, we are in a sense sentencing less serious criminals to death.

Edited March 18, 2006 by dalegg

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Another thing not mentioned is how many criminals are killed while in prison by convicted murderers who are not sentenced to death. By mixing these killers in the general prison population, we are in a sense sentencing less serious criminals to death.

I like to think that there are civilized solutions to that problem. Solutions far superior to pursuing medieval forms of punishment in the 21st century.

Edited March 18, 2006 by ET-US2004

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I see what you're saying there Fish - and maybe poverty does in some small way 'excuse' crimes like robbery, drug taking, and burglary.

But it can't 'excuse' the taking of lives - which is done across all social groups bands creeds and colors.

To try and excuse that crime, and the crime of sexual battery, sends the message 'oh well that's alright then - he came from a poor background' or at the very worst 'its ok to do that if you are poor, deprived and had a difficult childhood or are strung out on drugs'.

If it is murder (pre-meditated, planned, and attempts made to hide the event - which in most cases is the case) there can BE no excuse in a society that strives to protect its citizens.

Well I don't think that poverty, discrimination, or an abusive upbringing provide any kind of valid excuse for people to commit crime. They are merely causative factors, that provide an explanation as to why some people end up committing criminal behaviour.

If you break the law, you should be held accountable - clearly.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

There's more to it then social inequalities. Dealing with alot of troubled youth at work alot, it's not just about money and what not. This may sound racist, but it's not... you'll find that I'm not a racist at all. Most of our prison where I work is filled with blacks. Find out who their role models are. Do you think it would be people like Denzil Washington, Morgan Freeman, Bill Cosby and other law abiding, successful people? Or do you think it's people like Snoop Dogg and other rappers that have strong ties to gangs and what not? Alot of their culture flock to the bad boys, and they want to copy their life style. 50 Cent is a popular rapper amongst the thug-wanna-be's in my prison... he's been shot I forget how many times. Doing time in prison is a way for them to get street cred.

Most of the one's that break the law don't want to do things the traditional way - get a basic education, go on to college, get a job, become successful. No... they want to drop out of school at a young age, and sling crack on street corners. There's a lack of forwarding thinking... it's all about the here and now.

I worked with a black guy in Germany when I was in the army... and he was a bit of a racist himself... but he said for all the problems with the white people... they knew how to plan and prepare for the future. We were talking about mutual funds and savings when he said this.

No matter what social class you grow up in, you have the same oppertunities as each other. Yes, it'll be a bit easier for the rich ones. But if you apply yourself early on, in school mostly, doors continue to open. But that seems to be impossible for the thug wanna be's.

And it's because of that, that the social inequalities seem to get worse and worse. The ghetto is the ghetto because as a whole, the people there let it become that. If drugs were frowned upon by the neighborhood, instead of just about everyone taking hits off a joint with each other... they'd find their neighbors in better shape... and safer. There's no way in hell I'd let some one start selling drugs on my street. It's not going to happen. If I think one of my neighbors is slinging dope from their house... I'm making a few phone calls.

It's not a question of money or education. These people need to get their heads on right and start being held responsable for their own actions.. not placing the blame on their dads that took off, or their mom working 3 jobs to try and support them, or the crack they were high on when they killed someone.

Well the fact that the predominant role models for black youth are rappers who represent gang culture really only underscores what I was saying. Their perception of success is different.

The root of the problem is psychological. I mean, if you tell someone that they're worthless enough times they (usually) start to believe it and act towards it as if it were true. Is it that inconceivable that a similar thing could take place on a broader scale? The reason people don't (or can't) pull themselves out of it is because its self-sustaining. If you've been brought up to believe you'll never amount to anything, it significantly reduces your opportunities, and worse those attitudes get instilled into successive generations.

Why is it for example, that blacks and other minorities earn less, on average than whites? Its because regardless of attempts at political correctness, affirmative action and the like, we live in a class society in which race is a significant dividing factor. Its nice to pretend that discrimination doesn't exist and that everyone is the same - but it simply isn't true.

There is a view that racism simply doesn't exist, that there are no differences between people and everyone has exactly the same opportunities as anyone else. While it is true a person can rise above social obstructions and achieve success, it certainly is true that certain groups have a greater uphill battle than others.

For example, A person born into a middle-class white neighbourhood and goes to a fairly good private school clearly has a much greater chance of suceeding than someone born into a urban ghetto, who ends up in a public school with a piss-poor standard of education.

Again, I stress that this does not excuse crime. It only highlights flaws within society that can lead to criminal behaviour.