From: John K Clark (jonkc@att.net)
Date: Thu Nov 28 2002 - 22:43:38 MST
>>Me:
>>Then you should not drive a car because every time you get behind the
>>wheel there is a small but nonzero probability that you will make a
>>mistake and kill a innocent life.
Randall Randall" <wolfkin@freedomspace.net> Wrote:
> Do you not understand how taking an irreversible action is different
> from taking an action that may have an irreversible result?
No. If he's really guilty then I don't want to reverse it, and if he's not
then I do not see how they are different. If you make a mistake and drive
over the head of a child that's as irreversible as making a mistake and
executing an innocent man; and there is a nonzero possibility that either or
both could happen. The idea that you shouldn't take an action unless there
is no possibility of error at all just doesn't fly in the real world.
> I notice you didn't reply to the substance of my post. Does that
> imply that you don't disagree that it would be just as good to
> have the criminal pay their own way?
I have no moral problem in having prisoners work for their food and shelter
just as you and I do but there are practical problems, most are just not
very good at making money, have a rather poor work ethic, and will rob you
blind unless you watch them very closely, not exactly the stuff that makes
for employee of the year, but if a way could be found to make it work
that would be great.
John K Clark jonkc@att.net
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