"If we execute murderers and there is in fact no deterrent effect, we have killed a bunch of murderers. If we fail to execute murderers, and doing so would in fact have deterred other murders, we have allowed the killing of a bunch of innocent victims. I would much rather risk the former. This, to me, is not a tough call."

John McAdams - Marquette University/Department of Political Science, on deterrence

I pulled this quote from a web discussion on MySpace--some philosophy club or other. Interesting bit of calculation. the underlying assumption is that the only risk to execution is that we may kill murderers. Professor McAdams would seem to believe that the justice system is infallible and that the capitol punishment process never inadvertantly kills an innocent. The cost of his "former" proposition actually includes that risk as does the "latter." Now the cost is higher and his argument is specious and shallow.

CDs listened to today:

• Charles Wuorinen: Genesis
• Frederic Chopin: Nocturnes, disk 2
• Ben Folds Five: Whatever and Ever Amen
• Dizzee Rascal: Dizzee Rascal