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Reactionary
Guest
9/11/2003
07:40:39
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 Subject: Criminal justice
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Message:
I would like to bring up for discussion a topic I do not see in any counterrevolutionary literature; but yet I consider it one of the most important issues (maybe the most important) for socio-political society. The issue is crime and punishment, or criminal justice. How should the state punish criminals? What crimes should get what punishments?
From my interpretation of history it seems that the modern revolution has either abolished the death penalty altogether or severely hindered it. Instead of following societal change throughout history, just follow criminal justice. Once the death penalty is abolished or not used or mitigated, the society goes straight to crud. Give me the details of a country's de facto criminal justice system, and I can tell you everything else about that country.
"Cruel and unusual" punishment has always been part of counterrevolutionary societies. I know Rome and Greece used forms of execution more severe than the modern world's. Medieval Europe used burning at the stake, drawing and quartering, breaking on the wheel. I do not advocate all their forms of punishment, especially when used for thoughts and beliefs. But I do think there must be a return to the traditional string-em up attitude that has always been a part of right-wing societies, or whatever label you would like to use.
Modern-day Iran uses hanging by lofting, not dropping; it takes more time to die with their form of hanging than the Western system of dropping, where death is immediate. Also, Saudia Arabia still uses beheading to this day for crimes such as sodomy (yes, you get the death penalty there for homosexuality).
I propose:
* A stance from On To Restoration regarding capital punishment, advocating its use and a return to more traditional forms of punishment. If such a page is declined, I still would like to hear Jim Kalb's views on this topic.
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Jim Kalb
Administrator
9/14/2003
16:24:39
| RE: Criminal justice
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Message:
I agree that punishment is an important issue, but unfortunately don't have a fully-worked out theory to put forward.
It seems to me that capital punishment can be a recognition of the seriousness of human action, the overriding respect due to justice, and the impossibility of managing or manipulating problems away. As such it seens to me that it would normally be necessary to a civilized existence based on a recognition of the dignity as well as the limitations of human life.
On the other hand, it seems to me that capital punishment can also be a bad thing in a state that no longer recognizes realities and authorities that transcend it. In such a situation it becomes simply an instrument of administrative control or social hygiene rather than an act carried out in the service of justice. As such it would be intolerable in itself and also lend itself to the gross excesses seen in certain states during the last century.
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