Death penalty discussion from the Walt Bodine show 20080625

Death penalty discussion from Walt Bodine Show
The Walt Bodine Show today was on the Morality and ethics of the death penalty. They were basically ineffective at discussing the topic and did not even get to my email. So, I post it here.

On the subject of the Death Penalty discussion...

In order to be for or against such a penalty, one must examine the goal of the justice system in place.
Justice systems are put in place by society to address behavior that is outside what is considered "acceptable" to that society.

A justice system may have one of three goals: Protection of the Society as a whole, Retribution, or justice, for improper behavior, or Rehabilitation to "right" thinking.

If the goal of the justice system is protection of the society from the dangerous behavior of individuals, we must look at the justice system's punishments from a purely societal view. The only sure way to ensure the safety of a society from deviant behavior is the permanent removal of the individual from the society. There are three ways to achieve this: permanent exile, permanent incarceration, or execution. Exile can rarely be enforced in a society larger than the tribe level, so would be unacceptable in our society because it does not achieve the permanent solution. Permanent incarceration puts a burdon on society as those that have behaved properly now have to "pay" for the maintenance of the deviant individual for an indefinant length of time. Execution achieves the goal of protection of the society.

If the goal of the justice system is retribution, or justice, for improper behavior, then the old adage of "eye for an eye" comes to mind as appropriate. The level of the punishment should be equal to the level of the deviant behavior. Theft of property equals removal of personal property of equal value or monetary equivalent. Rape equals rape. Murder equals execution.

If the goal is rehabilitation of the social deviant, then a system of changing the nature and way of thinking of the deviant individual must be put in place. This would mean extensive altering with psychological counseling, reward/punishment training, relocation away from the environment in which the deviant behavior was learned and reinforced, and eventual trust and encouragement to succeed in the society. This is currently beyond our capacity as a society and does not even appear to be a goal. And PROPER behavior must be rewarded in kind. A system can not just be based upon negative reinforcement. A purely negative reinforcement system does not work with animals, children or anyone else seeking training of any sort.

With all goals, the punishments should be at a level to be a deterant to other individuals against improper behavior as judged by the society. Punishments must come swiftly after the transgression else the meaning is lost. Punishments must be publicized to the entire society so that the society as a whole may see that improper behavior is punished.

The current system we have in place does not achieve any of these goals, btw.

I hate my job!!!

Did I mention I hate my job? Hm?

It's not really the job. I like teaching.
It's not even the schedule as much as the way they run the business.
And it's not even the way they run the business as much as they way the screw around with my pay!

They've changed the pay structure - AGAIN!

When I was hired, they presented me with a pay scale and schedule of advancement based upon the IT certifications I had combined with what I would be achieving while I worked here. They've changed that now so that only two of the certs I had before I was hired count for anything, and the ones I've achieved since I've been here, no longer count "as much".

So, I get told today that I'll not be getting the raise I expected. In fact, I won't be getting ANY raise because I no longer qualify for it.

Is it too much to ask for the management to actually fulfill the compensation package as promised?


I SOOOOO want to work elsewhere!

I'd have to get a lot better to feel like shit

It all started last week when I only felt crappy on Wednesday. Then I taught class on Thursday and Friday against my better judgement. By Friday night I had absolutely no energy. Saturday morning saw me awakening due to a fever of around 104 which broke periodically through the day but always seemed to come back with vengence. The fever was accompanied by much pain, coughing, dehydration, sneezing, and chills. When it broke there was much sweating and even more pains.

My wonderful wife did all I would let her to help me. She kept me watered down and filled with juice and food when I could keep it down. Of course, I wouldn't let her do much because she had just sprained her wrist ealier last week.

Now, I'm back teaching at night this week. I should be in bed. I'm still running a fever - low thanks to much drugs - and have no energy at all that doesn't come from an overdose of coffee. But, if I don't show up, the place I work is likely to fire me. They don't seem to care for such things interfering with their business. Rule #1: The Class Goes!

I gotta find a real job again......

Didja ever wonder...........

A thread on the trivia tribe sparked me to ask some questions. I don't know the answers.....I think they are different for everyone.

What do you say about a culture that celebrates the date of someone's death as opposed to their birth?
What makes a culture more excited about celebrating people they have never and will never meet rather than the most important people in their daily lives?
What is it that makes us want to allow the day of our own birth, or other personally important events, pass us by unnoticed, uncelebrated, and unrevered and even an inconvenience for some when reminded making them feel obligated and sure to never enjoy the modicum of revery?
Why do we "grow out of" birthday celebrations?
Why do we not remember anniversaries?
Why do we celebrate the works of persons long dead yet seldom even say thank you to parents, grandparents or friends?

Food for thought

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite. He told the group to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said, "If you noticed, all the nice looking cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases, it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went fo rthe best cups...and then you began eyeing each other's cups.

Now consider this: "life" is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain "life," and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of the "life" we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us. God brews the coffee, not the cups.

Enjoy the coffee! The happiest people do not have the best of everything...they just make the best of everything. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God. Your are the miracle, my friend...your life either shines a light or casts a shadow.

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