Quote:
Originally Posted by Suave
You're using our current faulty system to justify an even faultier method of dealing with crime?
If the deterrent method of crime control actually worked then we'd see the lowest crime rates in the countries with the most draconian laws, and this is certainly not the case. Deterrence, for the most part, does not work particularly well; a great number of criminals are not rational actors, and they do not perform a cost-benefit analysis before they kill someone, mug someone, etc. I'm of the opinion that the retribution handed down for crimes should be repairative - directly to the victim, if possible (not likely so in this case) or at least to society in general. If we do not have a reliable method of preventing crime through the way we deal with offenders, then we may as well attempt to counter some of the social negativity of these acts with the sentence given to those who have been convicted.
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Um, don't confuse causation. The areas with the worst crime rates tend to enact the most draconian laws. Those with lower rates don't typically need to resort to such extremes.
Deterrence definitely works, despite criminals not being a particularly rational bunch. All in all stricter penalties have been shown to discourage criminals.
Aside from deterrence, most criminals in the United States are caught and locked up multiple times. Iran's 'one strike and your out' approach definitely deters future crimes...it's hard to rape and pillage when you don't have any eyes.
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"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill
"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." Seven Pillars of Wisdom, T.E. Lawrence
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