How can a nation or society consider itself civilized if their government advocates executions?

for those who think it is a deterrent ... they might want to look at the statistics in countries that have no capital punishment

Florida and California actually have more people on death row. But Texas is number one in follow through. Really great (and depressing) site with all the stats here: http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/race-death-row-inm...

Warning, you will need to shower if you spend more than five minutes with all the info in the drop down menus.

in my opinion, the simple answer to that is that it cannot. i happen to wholeheartedly agree with frou frou on this, we are not as civilised as we like to think we are... there are little pockets, here and there, but the collective denial, the collective injustices and inequalities ignored, the collective greed, the collective turning of eyes away from some very unpalatable facts tell their own story, it is not a very pretty story and we are, each one of us, the writers of this story.

p.s. i feel my answer is very "doom and gloom" but really, in my heart, there is plenty of room for optimism and a good dose of faith in humanity and what we are capable of when we turn our focus to important matters and stand united, at least bush is now out of the white house and the people of the united states elected a president with his fair share of brain cells, that's a start :) now, let's see how he responds to the inordinate amounts of pressure he must be feeling where the israel/palestine situation is concerned.

Did you forget about the rights of the victims? A civilized society enforces laws which protect people. The law breakers made their choice. If liberals had their way, it would no longer be safe on the streets. There would be criminals everywhere, because they would know there was no punishment. Executions are a deterrent. Hurray for Texas.

Bush has nothing to do with executions. the governor does not have that autority. The county prosecutor or D.A. tries someone with capitol murder. A jury convicts them of capitol murder.

In Texas, the governor has the limited power to stay an execution once, for 30 days only, unless Board of Pardons and Paroles makes a recommendation for clemency.

http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/bpp/exec_clem/exec_cle...

Are you trying to change the facts just to convince yourself that Bush is evil? Or are you reading too many liberal/commie sites?

Look around. Its the current mind set. When you have a nation that is constantly afraid, all things are threats.

i think theres really very little civilised about humanity, but we prefer to think we are

not just executions, most things, when it comes to anything thats inhumane, but we do it, that proves we arent civilised

jingles ;-)

(damn yahboosucks wont let me star qs....ggrrr)

Because executions deter educated people from committing murder. Uneducated people keep right on murdering people, no matter what laws are on the books.

if i murdered and killed you re family what would be the right thing to do ?

what is the proper punishment for someone who has tortured and raped and murdered without any compassion?