This is what I was thinking. It does seem cruel and unusual punishment.

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Any energy source that truly is cheaper and cleaner, yet still reliable, will not need government help to develop or sell. ~ Ron Paul

Really?? then why do so many people pay large sums of money for the pleasure?

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Election 2008 – Addicted to Placebos

That's a bit different. I imagine it's similar to the distinction between having consensual sex and being raped. People also sometimes pay for the one, but not for the latter.

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"The only abnormality is the incapacity to love"
-Anias Nin

Is it so different? What if you give the convict a choice between a few lashes or a few months on jail?

The method itself really isn't particularly cruel. It all depends on how its employed.

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Election 2008 – Addicted to Placebos

I thin kmost would take the lashings and be right back out. I don't see this as a good thing.
Presumably jail time serves a purpose; to remove the offender from society and protect citizens. A whipping protects no one, and only satisfies a sense of retribution or vengance. Vengance is not justice, and is a not a suitable goal for a civilised govenrment. I for one would not want an offender to have the option of getting a few lashes and then returning to the street because I really don't think it would alter their behavior at all. Prison may not alter it either, but if it were administered in a way better designed to turn people around it at least has the potential to, and at least they aren't out repeating their crime while they are in there.

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please click and help the eggs hatch!

"The only abnormality is the incapacity to love"
-Anias Nin

They would be right back out, but would they be engaging in the same behavior that got them the lashes in the first place? This isn’t vengeance, it isn’t retribution; its deterrence. You’re completely ignoring the deterrent properties of corporal punishment. Historically, it’s been relatively effective. People were certainly more mindful of the law during the Golden Age of Sails than they are today. The problem with prisons is that criminals aren’t concerned enough about ending up there to alter their behavior; looking them over, why would they be concerned? (Which do you like more; Texarkana’s bocce pit, Englewood’s ping-pong and foosball tables, or Ashland's nutrition, aerobic and stress reduction programs?)

It would be an improvement if prisons were simply warehouses for inmates; unfortunately, jails provide criminals the opportunity to get together with their colleagues and hone their skills in their tradecraft. We’ve been told prisons are supposed to rehabilitate criminals for a century or more; crime hasn’t gotten any better during that time, to say the least. If you have a way that is certain to alter the behavior of the dregs of society, by all means, let us know.

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Election 2008 – Addicted to Placebos

Because some select few are into physical pain.

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"Bring the boys back home!"--Pink Floyd

NFA JJG 42-95

Free People/Free Markets

Following the Path of the Beam

Tell ya what, go get a whip, of any type (even a riding crop) and let me hit you with it 20 times. Then come tell me it isn't cruel.

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"Bring the boys back home!"--Pink Floyd

NFA JJG 42-95

Free People/Free Markets

Following the Path of the Beam

Sure; just after you lock yourself in a closet for 6 months just for fun.

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Election 2008 – Addicted to Placebos

20 lashes with a riding crop is not necessarily cruel...

...i've known quite a few women who rather enjoyed that kind of thing

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In case you were wondering, yes, there really ARE more idiots these days....technology has made natural selection obsolete.

I hear what you are saying, but this has already been covered

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"Bring the boys back home!"--Pink Floyd

NFA JJG 42-95

Free People/Free Markets

Following the Path of the Beam

Do you have data to support the hypothesis that physical punisment works as a deterrent to crime?
I'm not arguing the point that prisons are frequentl;y poorly run, and do not often meet the goal of rehabilitation. I just doubt that a whippin' would serve any better.

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"The only abnormality is the incapacity to love"
-Anias Nin

And men. However, we aren't discussing 'safe sane and consensual' activities here.

__________________
please click and help the eggs hatch!

"The only abnormality is the incapacity to love"
-Anias Nin

Come on, is that the best you can do?

__________________
"Bring the boys back home!"--Pink Floyd

NFA JJG 42-95

Free People/Free Markets

Following the Path of the Beam

Not much, I found this:

http://www.albany.edu/~grn92/jp13.html

Since all the movement has been away from cp, there's no way to collect comparable statistics. I'm not really arguing cp's effectiveness, just that what we're doing now ain't working.

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Election 2008 – Addicted to Placebos