What Would be Your Candidate's Position on the Death Penalty?

3813 Words8 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Impact of the media on politics

If You Were Running a Political Campaign, What Would be Your Candidate's Position on the Death Penalty?

Abstract

"... by taking the position of capital punishment reform, we feel that we can appease the most people. Our candidate would risk alienating some of the more moderate voters if we recommended a more radical stance. Our stance appeals to both sides because we do not abolish the death penalty outright, nor do we leave the capital punishment situation unchanged. We will appease those looking for abolishment by greatly restricting the use of the death penalty, and, as stated earlier, eliminating most of the problems within the capital punishment system. And, we will appease those who favor the status quo by not totally abolishing the death penalty, and keeping it for the most serious crimes according to our policy. We feel this stance is the best possible one to get our candidate elected."

Paper Begins Below

The death penalty is arguably one of the most important issues of the twenty first century, and has been the source for countless debates throughout recent United States history. Except for a brief period in the nineteen seventies, capital punishment has been a part of American society ever since its conception. Recently, questions about the morality and effectiveness of the death penalty have pushed the issue to the forefront of many Americans’ minds. Many large international allies of the United States have intensified the debate over what should be done with the death penalty in America by changing their own capital punishment policies. In our opinion, the time is ripe to make a decision, whether that decision is in favor of abolishment, the status quo, or just reformation of the current policy, i...

... middle of paper ...

...ost Online. 3 May 2001. 25 February 2004. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/sidebars/polls

“Protestant Pastors Support Death Penalty.” Christian Century Vol 117 No. 26 (Oct. 2000). http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com/hww/results/results_single.jhtml?nm=37

“Race of Death Row Inmates Executed Since 1976.” Death Penalty Information Center. 2004. 10 February 2004. http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?scid=5&did=184#inmaterace.

Sharp, Dudley. “The Deterrent Effect of the Death Penalty.” 11 February 2004. February 5, 2004. http://www.prodeathpenalty.com/DeterrentEffect.htm.

“Still Cruel and Unusual.” Washingtonpost.com. 3 February 2004. 3 February 2004. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7236-2004Feb2.html

“The Death Penalty.” Amnesty International. 2002. 4 February 2004. http://web.amnesty.org/pages/deathpenalty-index-eng

Show More
Related

  • The Death Penalty Should Not Exist in Today's Society

    944 Words  | 2 Pages

    Weil, Jack. "The Death Penalty Does Not Deter Crime." The Death Penalty. Ed. Jenny Cromie and Lynn M. Zott. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "The Death Penalty Isn't the Answer to Crime Woes." Star 4 Nov. 2010.Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.

    Read More

  • Melanoma Essay

    1138 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ially during the hottest times of the day. Also, wearing protective sunscreen while outside is effective at reducing the impact of UV rays on skin.

    Read More

  • Capital Punishment Essay - True Justice Through Application of the Death Penalty

    1070 Words  | 3 Pages

    Opponents of capital punishment are outspoken and vehement in their arguments.  They believe the death penalty does not does not deter crime.  They also hold the opinion that endin...

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Capital Punishment

    1209 Words  | 3 Pages

    Capital punishment in the United States is a highly debated topic. Arguments that want to get rid of this method of punishment usually mention the many problems that capital punishment is plagued with. The death penalty has many issues that cannot be resolved, and since these issues can’t be solved, the death penalty should be abolished. “The irrevocable nature of the death penalty renders it an unsustainable and indefensible remedy in an imperfect justice system.” (Evans 3) Even though the death penalty has been around since the 18th century, capital punishment has many issues such as wrongful convictions and high costs, proving it should be eliminated.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Capital Punishment

    1008 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are over sixty offenses in the United States of America that can be punishable by receiving the death penalty (What is..., 1). However, many individuals believe that the death penalty is an inadequate source of punishment for any crime no matter how severe it is. The fact remains, however, that the death penalty is one of the most ideal forms of punishment. There are other individuals who agree with the idea that capital punishment is the best form of punishment. In fact, some of these individuals believe that this should be the only form of punishment.

    Read More

  • The Death Penalty and Race

    3903 Words  | 8 Pages

    24 U.S. General Accounting Office, "Death Penalty Sentencing: Research Indicates Patterns of Racial Disparities," The Death Penalty in America, 271.

    Read More

  • Death Penalty in the U.S

    1231 Words  | 3 Pages

    In this paper I will argue for the moral permissibility of the death penalty and I am fairly confident that when the case for capital punishment is made properly, its appeal to logic and morality is compelling. The practice of the death penalty is no longer as wide-spread as it used to be throughout the world; in fact, though the death penalty was nearly universal in past societies, only 71 countries world-wide still officially permit the death penalty (www.infoplease.com); the U.S. being among them. Since colonial times, executions have taken place in America, making them a part of its history and tradition. Given the pervasiveness of the death penalty in the past, why do so few countries use the death penalty, and why are there American states that no longer sanction its use? Is there a moral wrong involved in the taking of a criminal’s life? Of course the usual arguments will be brought up, but beyond the primary discourse most people do not go deeper than their “gut feeling” or personal convictions. When you hear about how a family was ruthlessly slaughtered by a psychopathic serial killer most minds instantly feel that this man should be punished, but to what extent? Would it be just to put this person to death?

    Read More

  • The Need for Capital Punishment in America

    1160 Words  | 3 Pages

    Adams, Cindy. “The Death Penalty as Just Punishment.” Does Capital Punishment Deter or is it a Biased Process? 3 Sept. 2008. 30 May 2010 < http://penal-system.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_death_penalty_as_just_punishment>.

    Read More

  • The Death Penalty

    853 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the 1970s, the top argument in favor of the death penalty was general deterrence. This argument suggests that we must punish offenders to discourage others from committing similar offenses; we punish past offenders to send a message to potential offenders. In a broad sense, the deterrent effect of punishment is thought to b...

    Read More

  • The Ethics of Capital Punishment

    1503 Words  | 4 Pages

    Americans have argued over the death penalty since the early days of our country. In the United States only 38 states have capital punishment statutes. As of year ended in 1999, in Texas, the state had executed 496 prisoners since 1930. The laws in the United States have change drastically in regards to capital punishment. An example of this would be the years from 1968 to 1977 due to the nearly 10 year moratorium. During those years, the Supreme Court ruled that capital punishment violated the Eight Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. However, this ended in 1976, when the Supreme Court reversed the ruling. They stated that the punishment of sentencing one to death does not perpetually infringe the Constitution. Richard Nixon said, “Contrary to the views of some social theorists, I am convinced that the death penalty can be an effective deterrent against specific crimes.”1 Whether the case be morally, monetarily, or just pure disagreement, citizens have argued the benefits of capital punishment. While we may all want murders off the street, the problem we come to face is that is capital punishment being used for vengeance or as a deterrent.

    Read More

  • History of the Death Penalty and Why It Is Not Wrong

    3309 Words  | 7 Pages

    Eagan, Jeffrey A. “Capital Punishment: Deterrent Effects and Capital Costs.” Law.columbia.edu. Columbia Law School, 2013. Web. 12 Feb. 2013.

    Read More

  • The Evolution of Human Skin Color

    1016 Words  | 3 Pages

    Melanin helps reduce the absorption of wavelengths into the skin (Chaplin, Jablonski, 59). The more melanin in the skin, the greater the protection against harmful UV rays, and the amount of melanin in the skin correlates with the skin’s color (more melanin means darker skin)....

    Read More

  • The Death Denalty, An Annotated Bibliography To The Death Penalty

    1346 Words  | 3 Pages

    When someone is legally convicted of a capital crime, it is possible for their punishment to be execution. The Death Penalty has been a controversial topic for many years. Some believe the act of punishing a criminal by execution is completely inhumane, while others believe it is a necessary practice needed to keep our society safe. In this annotated bibliography, there are six articles that each argue on whether or not the death penalty should be illegalized. Some authors argue that the death penalty should be illegal because it does not act as a deterrent, and it negatively effects the victim’s families. Other scholar’s state that the death penalty should stay legalized because there is an overcrowding in prisons and it saves innocent’s lives. Whether or not the death penalty should be

    Read More

  • Death Penalty Position Paper

    924 Words  | 2 Pages

    “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” is how the saying goes. Coined by the infamous Hammurabi’s Code around 1700 BC, this ancient expression has become the basis of a great political debate over the past several decades – the death penalty. While the conflict can be whittled down to a matter of morals, a more pragmatic approach shows defendable points that are far more evidence backed. Supporters of the death penalty advocate that it deters crime, provides closure, and is a just punishment for those who choose to take a human life. Those against the death penalty argue that execution is a betrayal of basic human rights, an ineffective crime deterrent, an economically wasteful option, and an outdated method. The debate has experienced varying levels of attention over the years, but has always kept in the eye of the public. While many still advocate for the continued use of capital punishment, the process is not the most cost effective, efficient, consistent, or up-to-date means of punishment that America could be using today.

    Read More

  • The Death Penalty Has a Positive Effect on Society

    1553 Words  | 4 Pages

    Schonebaum, Stephen E. "A Swifter Death Penalty Would Be An Effective Deterrent." Does Capital Punishment Deter Crime? San Diego: David L. Bender; Greenhaven Press Inc. 1998. 18.

    Read More

More about What Would be Your Candidate's Position on the Death Penalty?

Open Document