I will comment three things about punishment: First, theoretically, it is not easy to justify having the state impose harm on people even when they do harm to others, although I think that a defense of punishment can be constructed. Second, there is no doubt that as a society we in America are insanely punitive by world standards: we have two million people in custody, up from a few hundred thousand a quarter century ago,a nd ona per capita basis we punish ina league with Iran and China rather than with France and Germany--which latter societiesa re not exactlly overrun with thugs and goons. Third,a s Yoshie says, despite this, we don't get the very worst and most deserving of punishment--the Kissingers and Jack Welches and the like. So Carrol has gone overboard, but in the right direction.
--jks
>
>Yoshie Furuhashi wrote: >The majority of murderers & pedophiles go
>regularly unpunished today. >E.g., those who price food, clean water,
>medicines, & other >necessities out of the hands of the poor; those who
>refuse to make >safety equipment & procedures available to workers &
>consumers; those >who order wars & economic sanctions; those who kill with
>governments' >approval; sex tourists who patronize young prostitutes in
>poor >nations, etc.
>
>As a mother, I always worry about food, clothing and shelter for my
>children, but I cannot protect them from abductors, rapists or other
>predators who should be shot after their fair trial. Of all of these we've
>named, do you count yourself as one? Like that horrid man Carol, do you
>think they should be allowed to roam free and do as they wish with nothing
>done by the police? I don't know if what you say is the truth or not, I
>have no experience with sanctions or sex tourists, but if some nation is
>deserving, shouldn't they receive sanctions?
>
>I must surely be in the wrong place, if murderers, rapists and pedophiles
>are defended here. That is a Japanese name, isn't it? Yoshie? Do you have
>children? What do the authorities in Japan do with murderers and rapists
>and pedophiles? I just finished a book that described the soap houses in
>Japan. Isn't that the same sort of prostitution? Is it alright if it isn't
>in a poor nation, if the sex tourist can afford it? Have you ever worked in
>any of them?
>
>Catherine
>
>--
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