Always hope

Some thoughts on the death penalty; from The Economist last week.

In the developed world, only America, and occasionally, Japan still use it. Justice Stevens recently declared that he no longer thought the death penalty itself to be constitutional. The late Justice Byron White declared that its imposition represents, “The pointless and needless extinction of life with only marginal contributions to any discernible social or public service.” Emphasis mine. Most studies show no benefit!

Even China, the world’s most avid executioner is seeking to limit the death penalty. Maybe sanity will prevail yet.