> Unpredictability does have the benefit of keeping people on their toes.
Wouldn't this logic apply to a law requiring that everyone keep their head lower than a certain height? Let's say that those that don't will be randomly shot. Now, not everyone keeping their head above a certain height will be shot, so is the possibility that it might happen enough of a deterrent? Or better yet, how about a law that says that white people will be randomly executed for being white? Not everybody. Just a random sample. Let's say net one in 5. Do you think perhaps that that will deter people from being white? Am i suggesting that murder is somehow genetic? No. But being a crime of passion, as it usually is, means that by-and-large people are not going to be reasonable or in their right mind at the time of commission. It means that they really have no more control over that than they do over their skin color. > All I was saying is that it's not a deterrent. You're right about the death penalty not being a deterrent, I agree with you there, but I do not agree that a system where "the spare whim of any judge" will be more of a deterrent. What does that mean? That people should live in fear of being snatched out of their houses because an [insert race/gender/religion] person was seen murdering someone, all people of [insert race/gender/religion] report to Guilt Processing Station 3 for assessment and possible execution? Your proposed system is set up for abuse from the outset. It is not a formula for deterrence, it is a forumla for systematic oppression. Nay I say! :-p -- will "If my life weren't funny, it would just be true; and that would just be unacceptable." - Carrie Fisher ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Now there’s a better way to fax. eFax makes it possible to use your existing email account to send and receive faxes. Try eFax free. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=63 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:149007 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
