Volunteering to watch an execution

[*bfine32*]

(05-02-2017, 11:10 PM)Dill Wrote: Well, since the 17th century there has been a progressive liberalization of 1st world industrial societies. Part of that has been the shift from punishment as and outdoor public spectacle to closed and indoors. Part of it has been a shift away from capital punishment altogether. Seems to me, then, that keeping it indoors and restricted is more liberal--"civilized" a liberal would probably say. 

Personally, I think the death penalty diminishes the value of life in a society overall, and where it is public even more so.
Conservatives tend to be more pro death penalty, ready to volunteer to help carry out executions, to lower the age and expand application, etc.

I believe the US is at present the only 1st world country with the death penalty. It exists in virtually all authoritarian regimes around the world. China apparently executes thousands every year. Some of it public. Often groups of people, like these poor Tibetans.


A few who watch executions might be more likely to go from con to pro. But I doubt if many would. I am pretty sure that in the US more currently pro would go con.  There was a time in the US when public executions were common, then public revulsion changed that, and ended the death penalty in many states.

I agree with you about transparency.

Once again the debate at hand is not about whether one agrees or disagrees with capital punishment. Much like abortion; it is legal and many disagree with the practice. The debate at hand is should it be allowed to be witnessed by the public.