That’s not to disparage senators who believe with all their heart that some criminals deserve to die for their crimes. Such minds can rarely be changed during the course of debate; a shift, if it is to occur, must happen during moments of deep reflection or as the result of new experiences that alter perspective. To support the death penalty merely out of political cowardice is something altogether different. When fear that a future political opponent could paint you soft on crime results in the abandonment of principle, when pressure from the party or one of its leaders penetrates conscience, it is affirmation of the thoughtful constituent’s gravest concerns. Because, more than anything, voters deserve intelligent representatives who do what they believe is right and can articulate the decision-making process in such a way that contributes to the continuation of debate. In New Hampshire and the rest of America, that has always been the driving force of social progress. And at the cusp of progress, this is where the debate now stands: Killing criminals is a base instinct masquerading as legitimized murder. It’s not justice, it’s revenge.
Posted on: Thu, 22 May 2014 17:40:49 +0000
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