My platform for running for Office

[Backtothemac]

Well, as many of you know I am a rather political person. I have often talked to my wife about running for Office someday, and I have decided to do it in 2004 or 2006. I am going to start being more active in the community here in our state, and use those contacts.

Basically I am a fiscal conservative, but a social liberal. I believe that what people do is there buisness. I also believe that they, as members of society have an obligation to society to be productive, however, the correct tools for them to be so must be in place.

One of the main points that I am going to run under is that if elected I am going to present legislation before the house that would make Child Molestation a Federal Felony punishable by life with no parole. The way that children are being kidnapped and murdered is too sad. We have an obligation to protect those that cannot protect themselves. Had the thing in California been convicted the first time and sentenced, Samantha would still be alive.

The people that commit these acts cannot be cured. They cannot be rehabilitated. So, lock them up for life. If someone takes a child and murders that child. Mandatory death. Period. No way around it. Actually, why not pass a constitutional ammendment that says that if you commit murder upon a child, or lewd acts upon a child, you will be punished by death. There would not be long appeal processes either. The situation would be quick, and done. One less scumbag for parents to have to worry about.

What do you think?

[Mr. Anderson]

I, unfortunately, am politically apathetic, as you know. But these sort of crimes - especially the one recently in the news, are horrid. I'm not going to vote - since that would mean taking a stand here, but I will say it should be dealt with. But the shadow of doubt rises up, and if its a matter of mental instability (it almost has to be a some level) prison isn't the solution for every individual.

D

[Backtothemac]

Originally posted by dukestreet
I, unfortunately, am politically apathetic, as you know. But these sort of crimes - especially the one recently in the news, are horrid. I'm not going to vote - since that would mean taking a stand here, but I will say it should be dealt with. But the shadow of doubt rises up, and if its a matter of mental instability (it almost has to be a some level) prison isn't the solution for every individual.

D

If someone is obviously insane, then yea, help them, but the facts about the people that commit these crimes are clear. They are preditors that function in society. They abide by all laws, but yet have a perversion for having sexual intercourse with Children. Normally they kill the child for fear of being caught. It is a evil cycle, and one that cannot be cured.

Great to see you post on something political Duke!

[job]

If convicted, the scum don't deserve to have parole.

Chuck the perverts into solitary confinement and throw away the key. I'm not adverse to the death sentence either...

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by dukestreet
and if its a matter of mental instability (it almost has to be a some level) prison isn't the solution for every individual.

quoting myself to clarify: this can go to both extremes - I'm more of the opinion that each individual needs to be evaluated separately. Putting a minimum sentence as a *guideline* is fine, and some deserve more than minimum.

Besides, put a child raper/killer in jail and it usually takes care of itself - look what happened to Jeffery Dahlmer.....

D

[Durandal7]

You found an issue I feel stongly about B2TM, I consider child molesting to be one of the most heinous crimes in this society. Life in prison should be the minimum for these types of offenses.

[Backtothemac]

Wow, I agree with what is being said. I really am going to run for Office one day, and when I do I will have my hands full. I just think that there is no greater crime that can be commited than the one that was committed against Samantha Runion. I just wish that I could have 10 minutes in a room with no windows with the guy that did it.

[job]

Originally posted by Backtothemac I just think that there is no greater crime that can be commited than the one that was committed against Samantha Runion.

They are the lowest of low. Life in prison is being mericful.

[Backtothemac]

Originally posted by hitman


They are the lowest of low. Life in prison is being mericful.

I know that this would never happen, but this is what I would love. Have a national lottery where you buy tickets. Say 1$. The winner would get to go to California for free, stay in a 5 star hotel, and then choose the method with which to kill the piece. 1/2 of the money would go to the victims family and the other 1/2 would go to programs across the country that would increase awareness of child molesters and the ways with which parents can prevent the abduction of their children. If the winner wanted they could just allow for the state to execute them, but people like me. I would have to do it myself.

[Backtothemac]

You know that actual problem is that the criminal justice system in the us is broken. It doesn't rehabilitate anyone. We sentence people to 5 years who are caught with a quarter bag of pot, and yet this guy got off for molesting two 9 year olds only two years ago. UNREAL! We seriously need to get the politicians out of the courts, and let common sense prevail. These people kill more children every year than the terrorists did on 9/11. I for one want a 'war on child molesters'.

I just pray that at some point in my life someone tries to take a child that is in my presence. They would not like the result. That is another disturbing fact. It was reported that Samantha's neighbors saw the abduction and did nothing. If I saw that in my neighborhood, I am going to give the benifit of the doubt to the child and walk up and say, sweetheart is this your dad? No, hope you packed your lunch jr.

People. Be proactive in your community. If you see someone dragging a child kicking and screaming, at least follow them in your car and call 911 and stay with them until the police get there!

[Durandal7]

Originally posted by Backtothemac
You know that actual problem is that the criminal justice system in the us is broken. It doesn't rehabilitate anyone. We sentence people to 5 years who are caught with a quarter bag of pot, and yet this guy got off for molesting two 9 year olds only two years ago. UNREAL! We seriously need to get the politicians out of the courts, and let common sense prevail. These people kill more children every year than the terrorists did on 9/11. I for one want a 'war on child molesters'.

This reminds me of something happening locally. A woman taped red-hot quarters onto her 6 year old grandson on an almost daily basis and tore off any skin that would begin to heal. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison with a plea bargain. A local city council member was caught ordering pizza with a city credit card. He faces up to 17 years in prison :rolleyes:

[iGav]

I'd cut their nuts off first......... then kick the living daylights out of them........

But I'm not the most politically correct of people when it comes to dealing with sick scumbags like these......

In the UK we have more than our fair share of sick bast*rds....... not a day goes past without hearing on the news of some paedophile being arrested, or some child pornography circle been smashed...... but for every person that is arrested..... you can bet that another one joins their sick ranks.......

[job]

Originally posted by iGAV
But I'm not the most politically correct of people when it comes to dealing with sick scumbags like these......

Screw "political correctness."

These sick f*cks don't deserve the decency.

[Backtothemac]

Yea, I am not politically correct on this issue at all, nor do I think that we should be. I think make the punishment so severe that they won't act out on their desires. Draw and quarter them in public once or twice, and I bet that it would slow down the crimes.

[iGav]

Originally posted by hitman


Screw "political correctness."

These sick f*cks don't deserve the decency.

Exactly....... that's why I'd cut their nuts off first.... with the rustiest, bluntest blade I could find........

[Backtothemac]

Originally posted by iGAV


Exactly....... that's why I'd cut their nuts off first.... with the rustiest, bluntest blade I could find........

My dad used to tell my sisters boyfriends that if he ever caught them abusing her he would....

"Take you out in the woods and make you stand in front of a tree that I had cut down the day before. Then I would make you kneel in front of the stump. Then you would nail your own D**k to the stump. Then I would pour a gallon of gas around you. Before I light the match, I will hand you a razor blade, and you decide. Cut if off, or burn to death."

Yea, my dad is pretty hard core. Really hard core.

[iGav]

Originally posted by Backtothemac


My dad used to tell my sisters boyfriends that if he ever caught them abusing her he would....

"Take you out in the woods and make you stand in front of a tree that I had cut down the day before. Then I would make you kneel in front of the stump. Then you would nail your own D**k to the stump. Then I would pour a gallon of gas around you. Before I light the match, I will hand you a razor blade, and you decide. Cut if off, or burn to death."

Yea, my dad is pretty hard core. Really hard core.

Seems fair enough to me....... :p

He never had to do it though did he???

[jelloshotsrule]

note to self: steer clear of back-dawg's dad......

[Backtothemac]

Originally posted by jelloshotsrule
note to self: steer clear of back-dawg's dad......

My dad is a ninny compared to what I would do if someone did that to my little girl. There are not words on the face of the earth that could describe what I would do.

:eek:

[Backtothemac]

Originally posted by iGAV


Seems fair enough to me....... :p

He never had to do it though did he???

Nope. Not one time. She used to complain that no one would even kiss her. Funny really. I will do the same thing when Madi starts dating. Actually mine will be a little for scary than dads. he.he.

[arn]

I didn't delve into the details of this debate... but I think you all are missing one thing...

What if someone is wrongly convicted?

Nothings 100% clear cut... sure if there were a magic wand saying "guilty" and "not guity" - then, sure, I would be for more strict punishments.... but that's the dilemna...

arn

[Backtothemac]

Originally posted by arn
I didn't delve into the details of this debate... but I think you all are missing one thing...

What if someone is wrongly convicted?

Nothings 100% clear cut... sure if there were a magic wand saying "guilty" and "not guity" - then, sure, I would be for more strict punishments.... but that's the dilemna...

arn

I agree, there would have to be positive evidence. Like in this case with little Samantha. There is no doubt. In any way that they have the wrong guy. Arn your a Dr. DNA is pretty fool proof you know. That is the only good things about these guys is that they tend to leave a lot of evidence behind you know.

[Mr. Anderson]

good point, and I'm basing my points on the assumption that there is overwhelming evidence, either eye-witnesses, DNA, or other forensic stuff. The DNA test is the one that usually nails it down, as in the recent case.

D

[Rower_CPU]

It's interesting that the Samantha Runion story is such a big deal back East.

It was definitely shocking that this guy was brave/crazy enough to just grab her right off the street where she was playing with her friend.

While it seems like he has possibly been apprehended, it just goes to show how easy it is for these people to do a lot of damage in a short amount of time.

[Backtothemac]

Originally posted by Rower_CPU
It's interesting that the Samantha Runion story is such a big deal back East.

It was definitely shocking that this guy was brave/crazy enough to just grab her right off the street where she was playing with her friend.

While it seems like he has possibly been apprehended, it just goes to show how easy it is for these people to do a lot of damage in a short amount of time.

Man, Rower, it has really tore me up. I am having trouble sleeping at night because when I first saw the little girls picture, I thought for a second that it was my daughter. I was out of cell range, and out of town when it happened. As a parent, I am horrified of someone doing that to my daughter. I cannot imagine the pain that that poor child felt.

Read the complaint against the jerk, and you will know what I mean. I don't know if I could handle something like that happening to my daughter. They would have to kill me to keep me away from him.

[Rower_CPU]

Originally posted by Backtothemac
Man, Rower, it has really tore me up. I am having trouble sleeping at night because when I first saw the little girls picture, I thought for a second that it was my daughter. I was out of cell range, and out of town when it happened. As a parent, I am horrified of someone doing that to my daughter. I cannot imagine the pain that that poor child felt.

Read the complaint against the jerk, and you will know what I mean. I don't know if I could handle something like that happening to my daughter. They would have to kill me to keep me away from him.

Yeah I saw the resemblance in the GeekFest pics you posted (beautiful little girl, BTW).

If I was a parent I'm sure it would affect me more deeply too. Right now I can only sympathize.

[Backtothemac]

Originally posted by Rower_CPU


Yeah I saw the resemblance in the GeekFest pics you posted (beautiful little girl, BTW).

If I was a parent I'm sure it would affect me more deeply too. Right now I can only sympathize.

Believe it or not that is what needs to happen. Sympathy and common sense. If we see a child being pulled around kicking and screaming, we need to take the initiative and confront the person. If the child says that the person is not their father / mother, then we should give that child the benifit of the doubt and TCB you know. Thanks for understanding Rower. It is a nightmare that every parent lives everyday of their life.

[macktheknife]

I have no sympathy for child molesters, murders, rapists, etc., and I wouldn't shed a tear if these offenders were put to death. That said, I do not believe in the death penalty for the following reasons:

1) It is ineffective. It takes nearly a decade or so from arrest to execution. Unless you are willing to execute criminals on the spot (which of course raises questions about justice and fairness), you will not strike fear into the hearts of criminals with a decade-long process. As Enlightenment philosopher Ceasar Beccaria once said: "What strikes fear into the hearts of criminals is not the severity of the punishment, but the certainty."

2) It is expensive. It is more expensive to execute someone than just locking them up for life.

3) It is unfair. Minorities are usually more likely to be executed despite committing the same proportion of crimes as whites. And don't get me started on the recent moratoriums on execution that was imposed due to shoddy evidence or poor legal representation.

4) It damages our prestige. How can the United States, the defender of human rights resort to execution (a punishment usually reserved for countries like Saudi Arabia and China)?

Again, don't get me wrong: Nothing would make me happier than to see criminals suffer and realize the fate many of them so richly deserve. And I'm not going to say that if I or my loved ones were ever a victim that I would not want the criminal to be put to death: I probably would want "justice." However, from a purely cold and rational point of view, I think it would be in the interest of the U.S. to abolish the death penalty for the reasons that I have outlined above.

[macktheknife]

I might be in the minority on this, but I believe that while the War on Drugs as it is currently fought is ludicrous, I do believe that society and a government should try to actively discourage people from using drugs. I noticed that many posts are sympathetic to those who indulge in "recreational" drugs. I agree that it makes little sense to lock up someone caught with marijuana. However, I think Americans are currently too permissive with respect to drug use.

The War on Drugs is based on the premise that drug use is wrong. Yes, it is strange that hemp is considered more dangerous than alcohol or tobacco, but this does not change the idea that drug use is wrong. The government (or at least society) should frown upon drug use since it produces a multitude of societal problems.

As a student of Chinese history, I know full well how drugs can ruin a society. The mass introduction of opium as a recreation drug by the British (with the assistance of American merchants) after the Opium War in the mid-1800s created a society were families were literally torn apart by addicts pawning their properties or even their children to fund their drug habit. Let us not even start on how addiction created economic problems with addicts unable to contribute to productive endeavors.

Now, I am not saying that the legalization of marijuana, speed, etc. will lead to a class of addicts, but one must agree that any substance with addictive properties will result in tragic consequences if they are widely distributed unimpeded.

[Backtothemac]

Originally posted by macktheknife
I have no sympathy for child molesters, murders, rapists, etc., and I wouldn't shed a tear if these offenders were put to death. That said, I do not believe in the death penalty for the following reasons:

1) It is ineffective. It takes nearly a decade or so from arrest to execution. Unless you are willing to execute criminals on the spot (which of course raises questions about justice and fairness), you will not strike fear into the hearts of criminals with a decade-long process. As Enlightenment philosopher Ceasar Beccaria once said: "What strikes fear into the hearts of criminals is not the severity of the punishment, but the certainty."

It is ineffective because the justice system is overrun with cases. Restructure what is a crime and what deserves real appeal status. This would thin out the load.


2) It is expensive. It is more expensive to execute someone than just locking them up for life.

It is expensive because of the cost of the appeals. Not because actually executing someone is expensive. Hell if they did it right it would be cheap.


3) It is unfair. Minorities are usually more likely to be executed despite committing the same proportion of crimes as whites. And don't get me started on the recent moratoriums on execution that was imposed due to shoddy evidence or poor legal representation.


This is a statisic that I have always had problems with. Yes, more minorities may be executed, but it is an economic thing, not a race thing. More impoverished people commit violent crime than those who are not. It doesn't matter your economic status, or race, you commit murder, you should die, especially murder of a child.


4) It damages our prestige. How can the United States, the defender of human rights resort to execution (a punishment usually reserved for countries like Saudi Arabia and China)?

No offense here, but execution of a person guilty of killing a child and executing a person who said that his government is corrupt are two totally different things.


Again, don't get me wrong: Nothing would make me happier than to see criminals suffer and realize the fate many of them so richly deserve. And I'm not going to say that if I or my loved ones were ever a victim that I would not want the criminal to be put to death: I probably would want "justice." However, from a purely cold and rational point of view, I think it would be in the interest of the U.S. to abolish the death penalty for the reasons that I have outlined above.

Well, I can say this. My half brother is on death row, although his sentence was recently overturned because he was sentenced by a judge. That being said, I am pro death penalty. I think it should be up to the victims family. If they want the person to die for the crime, then kill them. If they don't, because some don't, then respect that and let them live. I don't think the Death Penalty has and impact on our interests at all.

[Rower_CPU]

macktheknife-

Interesting that you should bring up drugs.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020719/ap_on_he_me/medical_marijuana_1

What do you think of the recent ruling by the CA Supreme Court legalizing medicinal marijuana use and cultivation? Sad thing is that the federal government can still prosecute anyone growing or having pot...where do we see this going?

[Backtothemac]

Mactheknife. Don't hijack the thread ;)

You are right, there are a lot of things that are wrong with the system, but lets focus on the punishment befitting the muderer of a child.

[Rower_CPU]

Sorry for contributing to that, I made a new thread:
http://www.macrumors.com/forums/showthread.php3?threadid=8270

[macktheknife]

Sorry about that. I saw some comments about drug use, and I decided to add my $0.02. :D

OK, back to the topic: If we believe that child molestation is committed by sick-minded people, how will the threat of death *deter* those individuals from committing the crime? You see, crimes committed impulsively and irrationally cannot be deterred by rationale threats (i.e. if you commit a crime, we'll kill you). I mean, yes, we should probably wipe out the child molesters but how can we deter them with threats?

Anyhow, despite our differences, I would vote for you if I could, Backtothemac. :D

[job]

Originally posted by macktheknife
I mean, yes, we should probably wipe out the child molesters but how can we deter them with threats?

Sadly the system is not perfect.

However, I do think it would make a difference if the minimum jail time for a 1st time offender was either life or even the possibility of the death sentence, instead of a relatively short jail sentence.

Many of these sick f*cks are repeat offenders; I don't think any parent would feel safe, especially about their childern, if they knew that these perverts, although convicted, may have the chance to walk the streets again.

[macktheknife]

Yeah, I agree we should just lock up the child molesters forever. I just don't think the threat of a death penalty will deter sick individuals from molesting children EVER.

Sad, sad, sad . . .

[Backtothemac]

Oh, I agree, I don't think that it will deter them, but it would remove them from society. Better to do that than to just lock them up for 5 years and then let them out. Seriously. 1st offense, life with no parole. It is not something that can be cured you know.