TheWiseOldFart

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart As a young man I thought I believed in the death penalty for first degree murder and treason. However, age makes most humans wiser because we are more aware of certain facts. First, I learned that the death penalty was not a deterrent for the crime of murder. For many men and women serving life without parole, death would be a relief. Second, the number of death sentences which have been overturned in the last 20-30 years is astounding and makes me wonder how many innocent men and women have been put to death unfairly. Finally, there is no doubt that America’s penal system is the cruelest and most ineffective in the world. Our prisons contain 25 percent of all incarcerated men and women on the planet although we have less than five percent of the world’s population. Our nation’s recidivism rate is by far the highest in the world at 70-80 percent. Norway has about 20 percent. If just one man or woman is put to death, and it was later discovered that he or she was...

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart   Something happened recently that may mean nothing to you, but in reality, it defines the direction our government is taking, and therefore this country is moving down the wrong path. 100 percent of the men and women sitting on the right side of the Capitol Building support the end of democracy and the establishment of a fascist regime in Washington. While it is true that Trump, Pence, DeSantis, Greene, Boebert, Jordan, Gaetz and many others are open about their efforts, others are hiding in the shadows. Moscow Mitch McConnell, Chuck Grassley, Ron Johnson, and the rest are silently supporting the most extreme members of their party. Today’s fake Republicans control their supporters with tactics involving anger, hatred, and violence, while accomplishing nothing of value for the American people. Capital punishment is a major issue. Most Americans never think about this subject, but it is important. If human life is of any value, this archaic form of punishmen...