I am saying that the fact of mistake, by itself, cannot invalidate the justice system.
You are choosing to treat the justice system homogenously where fines, incarceration, and execution are concerned.
I am fully aware, and ready to accept, that mistakes are made in the administration of justice: not, however, where execution is concerned.
Also: you continually say that mistakes do not "invalidate" the death penalty; what, then, "validates" it?
Since this argument started with the fact that we do not shut down the driving of motor vehicles, even though we know there will be some (accidental) deaths[...]Of course, some people find the idea of even one mistake too horrible to contemplate, but that belies that they accept the fact that statistically, many legitimate activities entail a low risk of mistake leading to unwarranted death, and that pretty inevitably, some people will die, among the 10s or 100s of thousands involved in such activities, like driving, wading in the ocean, flying, and so forth.
Driving is voluntary. As are flying, swimming, investing in bulletin board stocks, playing Russian Roulette, and other such examples one might use. On the other hand, an innocent person on death row will find themself in a decidedly involuntary position, and at the hands of the state no less.
A non sequitur at best, laughable at worst.
Our disagreement is inevitable and bound to be complete, as the below-referenced quote hints:
"...But in the total scheme of things, I trust that the government works pretty well, and that is all that I care about."
Message 18471305
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