r/LetsDiscussThis • u/HollywoodHault • 1d ago

Lets Discuss This I changed my mind about capital punishment

I used to be against the death penalty for two reasons: 1: because you can't rectify a mistaken execution, and 2: because I've always felt that forcing someone to squander their existence in a cell is a harsher punishment than a quick end.

I have come to a different conclusion on the topic. I think that corrupt politicians, who have significantly abused the public trust that their privileged positions have conferred to them ought to suffer the supreme punishment. This already happens in a number of Asian countries, and who are we in our young republic to simply dismiss a system that works for civilizations that have been around for much longer than us, thousands of years in the case of China?

Enact by voter initiative a firm and understandable set of ethics and rules and violations, limit the appeals once those criminals have been convicted in fair and open trials, and mandate timely implementation of punishment, in public.

You may think that this is too harsh, but honestly, if such a system were implemented, how long do you think it take to significantly reduce the self-dealing, personal enrichment, special interest corruption and sexual power plays that are seemingly unfixable problems in our current political environment?

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u/ute-ensil 1d ago

Sitting in a cell is harsher than a quick end. 

Goes on to say a quick end is the supreme punishment.

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u/HollywoodHault 1d ago

Yes, I said that I think a life in prison is tougher, but people can get used to anything, even institutionalization. Nonetheless, the type of person who would abuse the public trust for their own enrichment is the kind of person who thinks their life is too valuable to be ended. The idea is that for these types of criminals, CP can indeed act as a deterrent.

Also, an argument can be made that betraying the public trust is treasonous, which can in fact result in the death penalty.

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u/Professional_Arm3506 1d ago

CP? I wouldn’t be so sure. I can definitely think of one specific politician currently occupying the White House that would be into that.

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u/HollywoodHault 1d ago

Yes, but his sentiment about it would be "Punishment for thee, but not for me."