Tonight at nine Virginia will murder someone.

Tonight at 9pm Teresa Lewis, a person identified as borderline mentally handicapped, will be executed for her role as the “mastermind” of two murders. She is guilty, and by any measure she did things that would turn a decent person’s stomach. With this in mind I want to ask that at 9 o’clock tonight you take a moment and reflect on our taking of a life. After all, as citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia this life is on our hands, and no matter how reprehensible the act committed we still have to square ourselves and our society with the absurdity of killing to balance a killing.

Why do we need to execute Teresa Lewis? We have known for some time now that financially it makes no sense. Then perhaps as a deterrent for others? That is not the case either. In a 2007 report the ACLU offered a succinct summary of the evidence, “States that have death penalty laws do not have lower crime rates or murder rates than states without such laws. And states that have abolished capital punishment show no significant changes in either crime or murder rates.”

In other words, executions in no way shape or form deter others from committing the same crime. Where then is the social benefit? It seems that we are left with some idea of justice, but justice for whom?

Does society as a whole receive, “justice” if we kill someone? I must admit I have never once felt the sweet vindicating wash of justice the day after we give someone lethal injection, but perhaps I am out of step with the normal Virginian citizen. Do you feel, ‘justice’? The idea that justice is somehow being served in executions in not only absurd in of itself, but in fact results in a loss of justice within our society, given the socioeconomic profile of the majority on death row.

At its most basic, ‘justice’ is an attempt at equity, fairness, or balance, and an execution results in none of these. If a human is murdered many will mourn them. Those left to live with the pain of loss have been unquestionably harmed. If we then kill the person responsible what has been accomplished? Now the killer’s family also lives with the pain of loss through no dessert of their own. Is this more balanced, two wronged groups of mourners? If the awfulness of murder is what makes it so unjust, how can replicating those feelings in others bring about anything other than more injustice?

Perhaps executions will lessen the pain for those who lost their loved one? This seems to drive many people’s idea about the fairness of capital punishment, yet we are unwilling to turn a critical eye on this premise because they are victims. A murderous spirit is simply that; blood lust masquerading in the robes of justice. Yes those who have someone they love taken from them have lost a lot, but it’s in the face of such tragedy that societies can best show the strength of their convictions, instead of codifying revenge and cycles of violence. We can best exemplify our commitment to the sanctity of human lives by upholding the principle despite the tragedy.

Executions are carried out in our name and on our behalf but most people would rather not be aware that they are going on. We’ve become so disassociated from the act that it has been rendered sterile and innocuous in our lives. Tonight we all kill someone, whether or not you choose to accept the responsibility. It’s the consequence of community. It’s part of the contract. We all reap the benefits of society and we all bear the moral burden too. Tonight at 9pm all of us will murder Teresa Lewis with our inaction as if we administered the needle ourselves.

Alcohol privatization study supports what I made up two weeks ago

The Marin Institute has released a study on Bobby’s plan and it is not doing him any favors. Here is the summation of their report:

“With Big Alcohol seeking to increase profit margins, across the U.S. powerful corporations and misguided politicians are promoting plans to eliminate state control of alcohol sales, promising better prices and selection in return for less alcohol regulation. As states become more desperate for revenue, a booming alcohol business could overshadow the protection of public health and economic stability.”

However, this report is good for me as I said these things two weeks ago without any real corroborating evidence. I think this sums up what you need to know about the plan when daydreaming about how awesome it would be to have private liquor stores-

“…the privatization could lead to 220 more deaths a year and $200 to $300 million less in revenue a year.”

All this leads me to once again wonder… what moves you Bobby? Is this just misguided policy or a concession to Big Alcohol companies with deep pockets at the expense of Virginia citizens? Either way Bob… it is bad governance.

Gerrymandering is the most awful fun word to say

The census has been completed and politicians are gearing up for the time honored tradition of slicing our state into segregated and politically advantageous districts. Once every ten years this magical process happens and voters around the state rejoice in their disenfranchisement and diminished voice in the democratic process.

Said one unnamed voter in a poor neighborhood, “I thought they did a good job ten years ago breaking up my neighborhood and limiting our ability to ever get a candidate representative of our community into office, but I’m confident they can do better. I mean you came here to talk to me right, so I’ve not been completely closed out of the public forum right?”

Another previously disenfranchised, shaking with excitement interrupted, “It’s like the morning before Christmas. I can’t wait to find out which mostly rich, white, conservative district our neighborhood will be parceled into. “

Calls for nonpartisan redistricting have mostly fallen on deaf ears, despite lip service paid by my Bob. Most anticipate a spring full of political acrimony as the republican controlled house of delegates and the democratic controlled Senate debate on how each can best keep their jobs and not how they can best help the people of Virginia. 

Why is this the front page of the paper?

Who cares if people want to throw away money for cheap thrills? Some do it at bars, others apparently at internet cafes. The Cooch has come out and said there is nothing wrong with these places but leaves it up to locals. Police took a bunch of machines, made no arrests, all over something that bothers no one and while operating on shaky legal footing.

So to summarize- dozens of officers were called in for a raid our tax dollars funded, but since the legality of the action is at best gray they may not get any convictions for the alleged crimes. So, Commonwealth’s Attorney Harvey Bryant took our tax dollars to confiscate gambling equipment on a gamble that they will get a conviction here?

The end of Capitalism?

Here is an extremely interesting talk with the longtime editor of Harper’s and founder of Lapham’s Quarterly, Lewis Lapham. Discussing America sans capitalism is anathema to most as many link democracy and capitalism as inextricably bound and interdependent. He also raises points about the long standing notion that capitalism is somehow innate or a structural reflection of human beings natural tendencies. Food for thought.