> Subject: Re: CP Legislation
>
> Dear HSNYDE31@MAINE.BITNET:
>
> The other day you wrote:
>
> "nothing you have said, or written indicates I, or The country's
> founders are wrong [about CP]."
>
> Au contrare, HSNYDE31@MAINE.BITNET, EVERYTHING I have said indicates your
> position is the weaker one. And I find it an amusing conceit that you align
> yourself (dubiously) with the country's Founders, as though this gives you
> some manner of credibility. Since you have said nothing even remotely
> intelligent on the subject of CP (in fact, all you have done is rant
> incoherently about "injustice" and the "innocent victims") you have no
> credibility at all. You, like others on this list, seek to argue not by
> employing reason, but by appealing to the emotions of the vulnerable masses,
> who are always eager to side with a cause which appears just on the surface,
> but is, upon closer scrutiny, fundamentally unjust and counterproductive.
>
> "I only want you to assure me that no innocents will ever be murdered in the
> name of justice!"
>
> If you had the ability to follow a conversation, a train of thought, an
> argument, then you would realize that I have conceded that no such assurance
> is available. Nevertheless, CP ought to be implemented as its enormous
> benefits to society would greatly overshadow its shortcomings.
>
> "Now to what these founders (who accepted CP) said: Jefferson, Paine &
> Franklin said
> when establishing the legal foundations of the current criminaljustice
system;
> "Better for eight guilty men to go free, then for one innocent person to be
> unjustly imprisoned."
>
> Is that ipse dixit method of argument supposed to persuade me,
> HSNYDE31@MAINE.BITNET? Gee, if Jefferson said it, I guess it must be true?
I'm
> not persuaded by WHO does the talking, HSNYDE31@MAINE.BITNET, but by WHAT is
> being said. The above quote is a mere opinion, and as such, has little
> positive or persuasive value. If you want to get philosophical,
> HSNYDE31@MAINE.BITNET, the please tell us WHY it is better for eight men to
go
> free. And when the Founders said this, were they thinking of eight men
guilty
> of murder or rape or treason, or thinking of men guilty of petty crimes? How
> could it possibly be better for eight murderers to go free than for one
> innocent man to be unjustly imprisoned or even killed? But these numbers do
> not speak of reality, anyway, do they, HSNYDE31@MAINE.BITNET? What are the
> real numbers of those unjustly imprisoned for capital crimes? They are
> insignificant in larger picture of social justice.
>
> You see, HSNYDE31@MAINE.BITNET, upon closer scrutiny, your impassioned plea
> for your version of justice is really just a half-baked, nonsensical
ideology
> which you refuse to abandon because of ignorance or arrogance, or both.
>
> "I sir would rather be unjustly imprisoned, then murdered."
>
> I'm sure you meant to use the word "than" instead of "then" but either way
> your statement is senseless, your powers of expression completely impotent.
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Daniel A. Dorry, Esq.
>
>
>
>
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>
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