[CLUE-Talk] a new note in the usa/iraq tune \\ "barbarians"

[Angelo Bertolli]

How about "our Democratic Republic is the longest lasting in the history 
of the world" which is true.  The Romans could never keep their Republic 
for very long before a dictator came into power.

Anyway, on the note of barbarism... what about the conditions of 
prisoners?  Some people might even say that putting someone out of their 
misery is less barbaric than keeping them in horrible conditions.  Of 
course I wouldn't say that because I don't care.  I think the most 
glaring issue is that the whole concept of capital punishment doesn't 
"match" our ideology in the USA.  Think about it:  we're SO concerned 
that people in prison get TV's, internet access,  are allowed to write 
their own books, have their own gym, etc. but on the other hand you 
could be killed?  I'm not saying the prison life is a life of luxury, 
but if we think that people have all these "rights" to be treated well, 
we certainly look hypocritcal for capital punishment!  It really makes 
no sense.  No matter how barbaric it is, I vote for reducing capital 
punishment,  but also stop wasting so much money giving a "nice life" to 
people who decided to take life away from another.

Angelo

Jeff Cann wrote:

>On Tuesday 27 January 2004 7:20 am, Randy Arabie wrote:
>  
>
>>However, our system of government outlined in
>>the US Constitution is the oldest on the planet.
>>    
>>
>
>So, you're saying that those heady Greeks and Romans didn't know anything 
>about Democracy and Republics?  What about the Magna Carta (1215)? 
>
>It's hard to argue that our system of goverment is the oldest.  Perhaps it is 
>the oldest of the modern era.  But, the ideas contained in our Constitution 
>were certainly influenced by many previous eras.
>
>Jeff
>  
>