In a message dated 2/21/2000 3:41:42 PM Pacific Standard Time,
starman125@hotmail.com writes:
<< Stirling Westrup made some enlightened comments about how even the most
cruel and sadistic individuals in the future will be seen as "sick" and not
evil and worthy of severe punishments as in our day.
Some of the Native American tribes have had that philosophy for eons. They
see people as being taken up by a "dark wind" -- where sometimes good people
do horrible things. Punishment is an odd topic anyway. What good it does,
what merits it has, of cost vs. effect ... of prevention vs. punitive damage,
etc., really!! ..it can be discussed Ad Nauseum by any group of Mensas any
day of the week without conclusive results.
>
Within the culture they come from, gang and criminal activity may not only be
"healthy" it may be the only path to survival. We are not usually looking at
a Ted Bundy when we see murder. That is an aberration. The most common types
of crime are related to environment and poverty, as well as lack of family,
education and reasoning skills. *Bad upbringing, testosterone, macho cultural
memes, institutionalized racism, lack of opportunity, no skills and a wide
assortment of debasing, abusive domestic situations* usually cause the
"mental aberrations" that form most young criminals' mindset.
Look: I doubt if neurosurgery will be available to them if they can't afford
a meal at MacDonalds any given day of the week.
Especially if the rampant Libertarian politics espoused on this list are made
real. That would make one responsible for one's own medical bills.
Leonard Cohen may be right ( I've seen the future, brother, it is murder.)
; - )
<< In time they may become very mentally ill but they made the choice in a
healthy state of mind to go down that road. I think with advanced neuronano
we will be able to look into brains/minds and see what the case is for each
person to give them a fair punishment.
Should all criminals be seen as "ill" and be treated and not punished? I am
not that enlightened yet and may never be, especially for crimes like murder
and rape. Perhaps treatment and punishment can be fused together. >>
Again .. just ask your local nerd discussion group, they can toss this around
for ever.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Thu Jul 27 2000 - 14:03:59 MDT