Quote Originally Posted by Enoch the Red View Post
By what reason would you campaign against rape as a punishment for tax evasion?



And you believe that the foundations of law in this country should be based on only what you care about? Do you believe that your bugaboos are the only bugaboos that should be used to determine judiciousness?



Not a harsh punishment, death. Do you believe that is a suitable punishment for the crime?



If as a society you say it's okay to kill someone because they stole your DVD player, what impression does that give about the value of life in your culture? Would you say it would be more or less than the value of the DVD being taken?
I'd probably have some reservations about tax evasion being punishable by death but I would be open to it if there were conditions on it. First - simply the tax code. Two - clearly outline the punishment. Three - ensure reasonable oversight, IRS isn't a trustworthy institution afterall.

The foundations of law should be based on the basic social contract. I'll pay my taxes and you make sure people can't randomly kill me or take my stuff.

Speaking of the value of life - what makes you think life can't have a negative value? IE does an unrepentant terrorist cause a net negative to the quality of life of those around him? Is saving a terrorist creating a net negative value? Back to the article I'm saying its OK to kill people who are actively trying to take your stuff. That values life - because it values the time (a finite resource) it took to gather those items. I value the lives of criminals less than the lives of the good honest hard working people of America. And almost all rational people agree with me but they will say stupid things like that "all life if precious" but give absolutely no thought as to why. Lives have weight on the equation - I know of NO ONE who honestly believes all life is equal. And if all life is not equal than you can assign comparative values to it.