The following is to be written as a dialog between two opposing people on the argument of capital punishment. The names I have chose have no significant meaning, I just fancied using Greek names to make it look more like something you'd find in Plato's book the Republic, I also fancied writing it a bit different to how others do, and if people like this style you might see Tamas and Agatone coming back for another argument.
Tamas - I turn to you now Agatone to discuss the role of capitol punishment in our society; I for one believe that it should be reincorporated into our system as it serves the purpose of justice, any man who has taken a life shall expect nothing more than for his own to be taken in return, this I see is the only logical outcome in a just world.
Agatone - Is that so Tamas, so what you say is if a man is to kill, in return his left is to be taken?
Tamas - Indeed
Agatone - And who is to take that mans life?
Tamas - The state
Agatone - And then what of the state? Does the man who takes the wrong doers life expect the same? Or his he just?
Tamas - He is just, he is merely doing his job to restore justice
Agatone - I see, but then what of the public? Surely the role of the state is to lead and teach the masses, thus taking a life of a member of the masses surely does not teach lawful citizenship? How can a state expect an obedient, law abiding public when the state itself is breaking the laws it commands?
Tamas - Fair to you Agatone, but answer me this, what would you do if the love of your life was taken away? Would you want justice to be done? Or would you want the man to be freed after his time has been served? Would you want revenge?
Agatone - admittedly Tamas I would be angered, any man would suffer under his own feelings if a loved one is to be taken, but to ask the state to take that mans life would be unjust and thus make me as bad as the man I wish to kill.
Tamas - But this is simple to say when you remain happy, with loved ones intact, your feeling may change if something was to occur.
Agatone - My feelings to justice and morality are far stronger than those of another person, one life for another should never be the case, as where would it stop, if a man was to steal from you would you steal something in return? Surely any man should wish to live a moral life?
Tamas - But is killing in revenge immoral?
Agatone - Any man who wishes that another's would end and acts in a manner to make it happen is immoral
Tamas - What of war?
Agatone - War is different, of course war serves no logical purpose, the only reason why war continues is because we are powerless in our own state to stop it, the interests of the bourgeois outweighs that of the common man, and hence they are used to fight the battles of the rich so they can earn more, but this is far from the point of capital punishment.
Tamas - Agreed.
Agatone - Capitol punishment was only introduced as a method of fear, people would be publically hung to scare the remaining people into obedience, now the state has several other methods to get the public scared, terrorism, disease and war, this is just the few used in our country, if you look to the west you will see even more, as we all know the US is the most feared state, not only by the outside masses but also by those who live inside, everyone constantly scared by the state, outside forces and even members of their own society, simply because the government uses methods to drive fear home, capitol punishment is just one of many used in this case.
Tamas - But surely capitol punishment is used for justice and not fear?
Agatone - Maybe they believe it is used for justice, but are people still afraid of the ultimate punishment?
Tamas - I would say that they are
Agatone - So surely bringing this back would instil more fear in a free country?
Tamas - Only for those who wish to murder
Agatone - Where does it stop though? What if a government deems an act by a member of the public a crime punishable by death, when others would deem it as an act of freedom? Surely a punishment such as death takes away our freedom of speech and expression?
Tamas - the state only acts in the interest of the people
Agatone - Dose it Tamas? Think of the laws this country strictly upholds, who are they in favour of? Us or the powerful?
Tamas - Both, laws of stealing protect all, as do laws of murder
Agatone - Yes but who has the most to lose when it comes to theft? The poor homeless man or the rich powerful CEO? Of course that question is simple hence the poor man is not gaining from that law; surely the law should be that he has a house. How can a moral state allow its own people to suffer whilst others live in luxury? If every man was rightfully homed and lived a comfortable life with all basic needs the rich would have far less than they currently have, but instead of men being equal you have those who can afford to spend millions of one house when that money could be used to house several others.
Tamas - What does this have to do with capitol punishment?
Agatone - Everything Tamas, as any law that is created is made in the interest of the ruling class, hence if capitol punishment was introduced it would be in the interest of the powerful, it would be exploited and any who oppose them would be subject to this law.
Tamas - But surely people would see what is going on and oppose the state if this was to occur?
Agatone - If that was the case then surely they would be opposing the government now? You believe we live in equality?
Tamas - Of course, every man has the same opportunities
Agatone - I love your idealism Tamas, but this world is far from equal and that is how they want it. You seriously think that if capital punishment was introduced your idea of justice would occur? If a the CEO of a wealthy international company was to 'accidently' kill a member of staff, or if the incidence of Bhopal was to reoccur you seriously think they would be trialled for capital punishment, as surely you would see this as justice being served?
Tamas - Well no man is above the law, any found of causing death shall result in death
Agatone - Tamas, the law as it stands isn't always just, so what makes you think bringing death into it would create more justice? The rich will always get away, some men, I'm afraid, are above the law, we should not look into making new laws to kill those who have killed, locking them away will suffice, we should look into corporate crime, issues like this are more important and more damaging to society as a whole than one man who has killed, yes that man has caused damage but nothing compared to that of the corporations.
Tamas - So you say we should ignore murder and focus on corrupt business men?
Agatone - I never said to ignore murder. Those who commit murder serve their time; I admit the criminal justice system needs vast improvement but it will suffice for the time. Instead time should be taken to educate others of what happens around them, because if we do not do something soon who's to say what will happen. What you don't realise is that the rich have more power than anyone else, if they wish they could make a drug and give it to the working class, this drug could lead to mass deaths, but they will not get trialled, they will not fall to justice.
Tamas - This will never occur so is largely farcical
Agatone - who's to see what is to happen within the next many years; with times as they are my friend I can see every outcome, a fictional tale could become a reality, that's why we need to educate the present to prepare for the future.
Tamas - And what to those who do not fit? We shall look them away for the rest of their days? Or shall we have them killed? What is really the difference between the two?
Agatone - The mere fact that the government would kill someone who, by their say, is 'faulty' and does not 'fit' society is ludicrous. What then, may I ask of you, do you think of those who are sufferers of mental conditions and struggle to fit with society? What if they were to kill? Then what?
Tamas - Those who are not of sane mind should not be killed, for it is not their fault
Agatone - But surely any man who kills is not of sane mind? What if one moment of adrenaline leads to an outburst and a murder? He could surely not help the rush?
Tamas - Of course he could
Agatone - What you fail to see here Tamas is the endless variants that could excuse someone from death, the mere fact that it cannot 100% be proven, thus you could kill a just man, is suffice not to bring this law in and also the act of killing another human being is surely against morality? Any logical human being does not wish to kill and should see no purpose in murder, for if we all thought this way we would all live in harmony, yet it is the state apparatus that keeps spirits low thus people resort to such actions as theft and murder.
Tamas - Surely we are not addressing capitol punishment here
Agatone - admittedly we have gone off at a tangent
Tamas - So what you are saying is that I should oppose capitol punishment?
Agatone - I say that you are right in saying what you wish. But just because a man has a voice it doesn't mean he knows what he is saying. I may not be able to change your views Tamas, but I hope one day you too will see sense, for this country needs solutions not more problems, why are we even discussing something that has been long forgotten? If the US wishes to continue then so be it, I am not American and so it is down the people of the state to change that law, American is developed enough, its time we start work on other counties problems, as well as our own, thus to make this world a more just place, not less
Tamas - What of those who have life sentences?
Surely it is a waste of time looking them up for the rest of their days? At least use them for labour?
Agatone - Slavery was abolished a long time ago Tamas, I do not believe that should be reintroduced.
Tamas - Granted. But people need to atone for their sins.
Agatone - You are right my friend. But to how we do this is a more suitable question and we may discuss this next time we meet.
Tamas - Thank you Agatone. And if I am to change my thought then I would owe it to you. But my mind still remains puzzled over crime and justice.
Agatone - You are not the only one Tamas, the idea of fairness in justice and what crime deserves what punishment is always up to debate, for the justice system is always going to be biased, unfair and unjust to those from a lesser position, unfortunately this is the truth of our society, the police are patrolling areas known for underage drinking rather than monitoring the rich, crime rates are rising, not necessarily because more crime is being committed but because the police are looking for it more. We will discuss other laws again Tamas as for now I shall leave. I bid you a good day and farewell until we meet again.
Tamas - Goodbye to you too Agatone
Right then, thanks for reading, I don't know if I made a point throughout all that, I enjoyed writing it, although I did go off a bit a few times, but I think you get the message that I disagree with capitol punishment and I can't ever see it coming back, but I understand why those who want it do want it. You see crimes of horrific nature, of mass murders etc, but do we really have the right to kill them in return? Of course we all have our own views.
Well thanks for reading, hope you learnt something or enjoyed it.
Rampant_Ross 2010
Thanks Ciao!
Capital Punishment...Yes or No? 
