[img_assist|nid=55194|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=73]Last week during the GOP debate we were treated to the spectacle of a crowd cheering the large numbers of government-sanctioned murders in Texas. This week we were treated to the reality. Troy Davis was put to death last night in Georgia, despite a growing concern on the part of many that his continuous claim of innocence may well have been correct. The court system failed Troy Davis, and we as a nation failed him.
Where to start? The application of the death penalty in the United States is an anomaly among Western nations. We happily cling to a system of punishment that seems to serve no purpose other than retribution. It's not a crime deterrent, it's not even cost-effective. It is government-sanctioned revenge. It is a punishment that cannot be revoked, ameliorated, or forgiven. It is the last desperate act of a government to punish the guilty and destroy a little more of the soul of our nation.
Many would argue that on the same night a bigoted horrible person was put to death in the horrific murder of a person of color, so certainly we sometimes get this right. I'd argue that it is never right to murder a person in revenge, and it is time for the death penalty to come to an end. Inevitably it is unfairly applied, racist in effect if not in intention, and a national shame. But most importantly it is morally wrong. It is time to end it, once and for all. During the next few weeks we will highlight some resources to use in fighting against the death penalty. It's not a Wisconsin issue since we have no death penalty in our state. But it's the right thing to do. Join me.