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Kickaha
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
 
2004-08-08, 23:19

Quote:
Originally Posted by eventhorizon
"to kill a man in a paroxysm of passion is understandable, but to have him killed by someone else after calm and serious meditation and on the pretext of duty honourably discharged is incomprehensible"
-The Marquis deSade


I find it disgusting that "because it's cheaper to kill them" is even considered being used as an argument for the death penalty. It's cheaper to do a lot of things that aren't necessarily good or right or just. The economics of the situation shouldn't be brought up in a discussion of ethics.
The greater good of society as an ethical question *is* precisely the point of incarceration in the first place. In situations where permanent removal from society is the *only* adequate solution, then the relative cost to society, as a matter of basic resources, is the prime consideration. And the basic resources of our modern society is measured in dollars.

So yes, the relative economics of the situation is highly relevant.

Would you rather I term it in measures of meals to needy families? How about hours available for teaching children? What terminology would you prefer to use, when discussing wasting resources to keep certain individuals permanently out of society, due to their own heinous actions?
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