Suspension
of the Death Penalty
by bobby jennings
Illinois
recently temporarily suspended execution of
death row inmates when it was found that there
was a high instance of inmates on death row
that were later exonerated of all charges.
Some months ago Time magazine reported that as
many as 30 to 40% of death row inmates in the
most populous states may be innocent. In 10
states, lawmakers have proposed legislation to
place a moratorium or abolish executions until
they can get the justice system under control.
There are
many arguments for and against the death
penalty, but the question I raise ultimately
is why has the State so often blocked the
admission of new evidence that could have exonerated
those found guilty in error. Why does it often take a
monumental effort of an unpaid journalist,
loved one, or attorney, to force the state's
hand to accept new evidence? If anyone hides evidence that
will exonerate a person of a crime, they
themselves have committed a crime against that
person. But if that person is a State
official, then not only have they committed a
crime against that person, but they have also
committed a most hideous crime against us all
and against the principles of honor, justice,
and integrity.
Violent
Crime Has Dropped In The 90's, Why?
FBI and
other law enforcement officials are quick to
take credit for this drop in crime. However
there is evidence to suggest that severe,
unjust, and uncompassionate enforcement of
laws in the inner core cities may be breeding
crime and not preventing it. Another recent
study suggests that the poor's access to
abortion in
the 70's has caused society to produce less
unwanted babies who potentially later turn to crime as
adults in the 90s.
The
complete explanation for the drop in crime is
bound to be complex but we must be ever on our
guard against officials that insist that they
have a quick fix if we will only give up a
little more of our rights as a free people.
There are many times simple and non-
intrusive answers to these problems if only if
our leaders will think clearly and act in our
interest. A recent change in the State of
Virginia enforcement of gun control
legislation is a case in point. Gun related
crimes there have dropped considerably when
officials started enforcing Federal
legislation of a 5 year minimum sentence for
illegal gun possession and crime. One arrestee
was reported to say upon frisking, "You
don't need to check me. You think I am crazy?
I don't carry a gun."
For a just
society, we need a minimum number of clear,
precise, and democratically agreed on laws. We
need strict, equal, but compassionate
enforcement. But most of all, we must have a
society that greatly values justice and stops
making excuses for - and punishes - the unjust
regardless of their stature or position.
John
McCain and Campaign Financing Reform
Most of us
have probably forgotten that John McCain was a
member of the infamous "Keating Five"
along with Senators John Glen, Alan Cranston,
Dennis DeConcini, and Donald Riegle. Charles
Keating enlisted the help of the five Senators
through campaign contributions to thwart an
investigation of his Lincoln Federal Savings
and Loan. McCain and Glen quickly pulled out.
In a two year Senate investigation, actions
against Senators Glen and McCain were
dismissed. Lincoln Savings failed and cost
the taxpayers millions. Keating went to jail.
The remaining 3 Senators that continued to
assist Keating were given a mere reprimand in
the case of Cranston and rebukes to DeConcini
and Riegle. These remaining "Keating
Three" were never returned to office by the
American people.
McCain
learned an important lesson as a young
Senator,
and has shown much courage in championing
campaign reform as a Presidential candidate
in this election. His first hand witness of
the corruption is reason enough that we need
to listen to him on campaign reform.
Interesting that McCain's co-sponsored legislation on campaign reform is
being blocked by Majority Leader Trent Lott, a
member of the Senate investigating committee
that merely rebuked and reprimanded the
remaining "Keating Three".
About The
Author
bobby
jennings is co-publisher of InnerSelf
Publications and webmaster of InnerSelf.com.
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