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I consider myself a staunch opponent of the death penalty for all the obvious reasons, the unfairness of its application for instance. The inability to correct mistakes after the sentence is carried out but sometimes, just sometimes it’s called for and is the only appropriate remedy.
The Bible says to those to whom much is given much is required so conversely those who take the most should expect the harshest treatment. Enron’s Ken Lay for example did more than just the cash value of his crime. Thousands of people must now face their old age destitute through no fault in themselves. Lay behaved recklessly and without a care as to the inevitable outcome, only that his own family was taken care of and well provided for.
A convience store or bank robbery will net the criminal twenty years in a hellish prison cell but society, as a whole is not damaged by the crime. But what of those to whom much is given? Brownie’s Emails during hurricane Katrina show his primary concern was for how he looked during his TV interviews and that he must be served dinner with cloth napkins. No concern for those appearing on TV holding up help signs on their rooftops or what they would be eating for supper.
The President drops what he is doing to come to the aid of the imperiled and in a show of support says, “You’re doing a heck of a job there Brownie!” Oblivious to the suffering of his own people he runs to support Brownie because Brownie is his people as the Vice President orders power diverted to get Exxon’s refinery back on line it’s because Exxon’s is his people.
The President with his best Alfred E, Newman “What me worry?” Feigns surprise at the public outcry and quickly choreographs and orchestrates a grand stage play in Jackson Square with a cast of thousands, with back lighting, spot lighting and TV lighting to show his commitment to a community with out lighting. He espouses his commitment his care and concern for the unfortunate as he kicks Brownie to the curb and finishes his plastic epiphany.
Then he packs his bags and his lighting and his generators that powered them and pats himself on the back with another mission accomplished. Is this a liquor store robbery or a Ken Lay robbery? What message is it society needs to convey to our rulers?
I won’t call them leaders as it would be inaccurate, leaders lead us, rulers merely rule over us. A leaders primary concern is for the well being of the society while a rulers concern is only for them and theirs. The recent commutation of I. Scooter Libby’s 30-month prison sentence is insightful and should serve as a shining example for all of us as to where we stand as a society.
George Washington also commuted sentences, for soldiers that deserted under fire but he ordered them carried out as well. The law must be iron but must be flexible and when law becomes iron or flexible depending on your station in life it ceases to be law at all but a royal court where we all live a the whims of the king.
In China, the former drug and food safety watchdog chief was sentenced to be executed on Tuesday after being found guilty of corruption and dereliction of duty,
The Supreme People's Court approved the death sentence against Zheng Xiaoyu, 62, who was convicted of taking bribes worth some 6.5 million yuan ($850,000) from eight companies. Zheng, head of the State Food and Drug Administration from 1998 to 2005, was sentenced on May 29 and his appeal was heard last month. Zheng's execution marks the first time China has imposed a death sentence on an official of his rank since 2000.
The harsh sentence reflected Beijing's resolve to wipe out corruption and to ensure consumer safety. Why didn’t Zheng use his influence in the corporate circles or use the media to decry his prosecution as a political witch-hunt? Zheng had been given much and much was required of him and through his corruption the entire nation was harmed. Zheng returned the bribes as a show of his contrition but the damage was done. It wasn’t about the money, he could have given back ten times the amount of the bribes but his corruption at the top will ripple down through millions of the societies innocents.
Like wise the harsh sentence will reverberate as well, officials in all departments throughout China will take a long introspective look at their own behavior.Perhaps it was just a punitive move by the Chinese government to appease customers and nothing will really change but I don’t believe that. Every second and third echelon official that might have worked with Zheng knows that the heat is on and if they’ll execute Zheng then they’ll execute them.
Strange isn’t it how the death of one at the top can affect the whole system while the execution of one at the bottom has no effect on society at all. Crime is crime and death is death be it by the hand of another through malice or robbery or lies the crime is the same why then shouldn’t the punishment be?
If it can be proven that this administration lied to get US forces to invade Iraq under false pretenses what is the appropriate punishment? Impeachment? A trial? Will prison time, time served in a cell undo the harm or avenge the crimes done in our name? Will it send the message that we the people need to send to our rulers? To shake to the foundations all of those who would sell us out for the quick buck. A message sent out all through human history time and time again whenever rulers overstep their bounds.
As I said, I consider myself an opponent of the death penalty but sometimes, just sometimes it is the only appropriate remedy. After all to whom much is given much is required and just like our soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan our rulers volunteered for their jobs and shouldn’t whine or snivel if their incompetence or corruption costs them their lives especially when they have shown such little concern for ours.
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