Wino

Here is a story about the cost to a state in the US having the death penalty. I am surprised that it cost so much. I am also surprised at the results of the poll of 500 police chiefs. Is the state sanction killing of a human being really something that brings down the murder rate? Does the eye for an eye philosophy deter crime, or does it just make the people feel better?

By Lucile Malandain – Tue Oct 20, 2009 WASHINGTON (AFP) – Even when executions are not carried out, the death penalty costs US states hundreds of millions of dollars a year, depleting budgets in the midst of economic crisis, a study released Tuesday found.

"It is doubtful in today's economic climate that any legislature would introduce the death penalty if faced with the reality that each execution would cost taxpayers 25 million dollars, or that the state might spend more than 100 million dollars over several years and produce few or no executions," argued Richard Dieter, director of the Death Penalty Information Center and the report's author.

"Surely there are more pressing needs deserving funding," he wrote, noting that execution was rated among the least effective crime deterrents.

In just one death penalty trial "the state may pay one million dollars more than for a non-death penalty trial. But only one in every three capital trials may result in a death sentence, so the true cost of that death sentence is three million dollars," the study's author said.

"Further down the road, only one in ten of the death sentences handed down may result in an execution. Hence, the cost to the state to reach that one execution is 30 million dollars," Dieter added in the report entitled "Smart on Crime."

The center's goal of ending executions may still be an uphill battle.

The report comes just a week after a new poll found that 65 percent of Americans still favor the death penalty.

Legal in 35 of the 50 US states and used regularly in about 12 or so, the death penalty has been reconsidered recently in 11 states, largely because of the high costs associated with its use.

Colorado came close to eliminating execution but New Mexico was the only state to abolish it, in March.

"There is no reason the death penalty should be immune from reconsideration, along with other wasteful, expensive programs that no longer make sense," Dieter stressed, noting that most US states that pay to maintain a system to execute inmates have in the past three decades put to death only a handful of convicted criminals.

"The same states that are spending millions of dollars on the death penalty are facing severe cutbacks in other justice areas. Courts are open less, trials are delayed, and even police are being furloughed," Dieter said.

In Pennsylvania, 200 police posts sit unfilled, and in New Hampshire trials were put on hold for a month to save money.

Dieter says that keeping execution while reducing its costs is not realistic. If less money is spent on appeals, he argues, the risk of executing an innocent person will increase.

He said that ultimately, execution does not deter crime as its supporters hope. Capital punishment has been abolished in most western democracies, and after it was eliminated in the US state of New Jersey in 2007, the state saw its murder rate decline.

Dieter cites a poll of 500 local police chiefs, which was paid for by the DPIC and released on Tuesday, showing support for ending capital punishment.

The survey found that the police chiefs see the death penalty as the least effective tool in deterring crime. They suggest more efficient use of resources -- such as boosting funding for drug and alcohol abuse programs.

http://news.yahoo.co...xecutionjustice

This is a cinderella story if ever I saw one.

By Associated Press Writer Tom Maliti – Mon Oct 19, 2009 KASESE, Uganda – For years, Charles Wesley Mumbere worked as a nurse's aide in Maryland and Pennsylvania, caring for the elderly and sick. No one there suspected that he had inherited a royal title in his African homeland when he was just 13.

On Monday, after years of political upheaval and financial struggle, Mumbere, 56, was finally crowned king of his people to the sound of drumbeats and thousands of cheering supporters wearing cloth printed with his portraits.

The new King of Uganda's Mountains of the Moon has undergone many transformations — from teenage leader of a rebel force to impoverished student to a nursing home assistant working two jobs in the U.S., where he lived for nearly 25 years.

http://news.yahoo.co.../af_uganda_king

Tomorrow never comes.

UN sanctions are what's worthless in my view. Have these sanctions ever succeeded in doing anything other than resulting in the people suffering further than they were already suffering?

In my view, sanctions don't work period. Look at the US-Cuban sanctions, not UN sanctions but still a joke.

The problem I see with unlimited editing rights is that a person could go back and change what was written if the discussion turns against them.

So!!! Who cares? If he doesn't stick by his convictions, then you won him over to your point of view. Big deal.

By being put in office by the Supreme Court.

A rich powerful daddy and some smart, high-priced lawyers can do almost anything. Junior made it on his own the second time around. I can't believe the American people went along with that.

Don't start about me.

It's a joke. Sorry, didn't know you were so sensitive about little nookie.

A man who brutally rapes and then kills a woman is in the same category as a thief? Same-same, but different? Your low life category is large.

In his case he just has a rich powerful daddy.

Daddy can work miracles when it comes to junior. I don't think George was ever a hard worker but he sure was lucky. How else can an idiot make it to the White House?

I thought murderers, rapists, child molesters would be in the low-life category. White collar crime is usually in a different category.

In Bangkok, I met a college graduate that was working in a DVD rental store. I did not ask but I don't think he was making much money, even though he was in management.

Or did he create his own good luck and put himself in the right place at the right time?

I believe you have to have both good luck and work hard, although there is always the exception to the rule, look at George Bush.

By the way, who's Nookie? And is he/she available?

Isn't Noookie lvdkeyes' cousin? If you listen to the town gossip, she is always available.

On the other hand, Andy Taylor was an excellent sheriff. Very good judgement that man had.

They were a good combination. The over enthusiastic Barney was counterbalanced with Andy's calm, cool judgment. Too bad this Canadian cop did not have an Andy Taylor for a partner.

I saw his pay stub, so I know he wasn't bullshitting me.

Seems like cheap wages for a college graduate, but I guess he figured, he need experience and had to start somewhere. He was probably thankful he had a job.

I am sure you never repeated the offense that cause the loss of your driving privileges.

Yes, the grades did improve.

Here is an update by Lindsay Robertson about the 19 pound baby boy born in Sumatra last month.

The 19-lb. baby boy born in Indonesia about a month ago is at home with his parents, sister, and brother in their tiny village, where he's become a local celebrity in addition to an international marvel. "Today Show" checked in with the family, learning that little Akbar is healthy (and has put on another half-pound), though his mom isn't strong enough yet after her C-section surgery to pick him up. Akbar's mother is also shown wearing a "traditional soothing cream" on her face:

As touched on in the "Today Show" report, Akbar's mother lives in such a small village that she didn't receive adequate prenatal care (she actually thought she was having twins), but doctors suspect that Akbar's size can be attributed at least partially to gestational diabetes, a serious condition that caused him to get too much glucose in the womb.

The doctor who delivered him expressed concern about Akbar's care once he's out of the media spotlight, but village officials have promised help. Let's hope he gets some.

http://tv.yahoo.com/blog/today-show-checks-in-with-19pound-baby-and-family--708

What a very, very sick man.

Really very sick, like the Jeffery Dahmer incident, although there are cases that drive a person to cannibalism in order to survive. The Donner case and the Andes plane crash come to mind.

I hate to think what will happen when he is gone.

As Scarlett O'Hara said, " I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow."

I usually re-read my post and then edit, if need be. For some reason, I did not catch an error I made. I know that minor errors annoy some people and I was hoping to make the correction. Oh well, just call me the language butcher. I would vote for unlimited editing rights, that is if I have a vote.

He has worked for that "charmed life". It wasn't handed to him at birth.

I am not saying he has not worked hard. Like being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, he has been lucky to be in the right place at the right time. Hard work and luck go hand in hand.

Welch's grape juice is yummie but not quite the same as a good Pinot Noir for this monkey.

The real oxygen thieves are the low life criminals.

And the high life criminals, too. I think there is a lot of people out there that would love to choke the last breath out of old Bernie Madoff and maybe some of his family.

Taking away privileges works well too.

I remember being grounded for what seemed forever. And I was not able to drive for a whole year.

And she has a positive mental attitude and a zest for life.

I have the positive mental attitude but doubt I will see a hundred. Maybe because the only zest I have is the soap in the bathroom!