A'int that the truth...

Strange. I've had much the same thought about Dick Cheney and torture these past several months.

Just curious BartendingBear when someone argues for Life Imprisonment (a form of torture) for criminals, do you think that that person should be imprisioned for life to see how it is before advocating it?

In my opinion, the difference is that when someone is sentenced to life in prison, at least they have been provided due process. The widespread use of torture without much protocol for determining the innocence or guilt of the person being tortured is what I believe has most people so angry.

I've had much the same thought about Dick Cheney and torture these past several months.

Indeed. My thought was that those arguing against an increase in minimum wage should have to live on the minimum wage.

Just so we are clear, you will advocate torture as long as there is due process?

No i would not advocate torture when there is due process. I would very much like to live in a world rid of torture. While i don't ever see that happening, I see the practices of the U.S. government doing nothing to lessen it and much to increase it's use and tolerance. Already, there is no question that people have become numb to things that would have, in the past, triggered more outrage and disgust.

I admit that my opinion on this is a bit clumsy. I find it to be a very difficult issue to resolve. I just know that i am not comfortable with the way the Bush/Cheney administration seem to be tackling it.

The odd thing, BitD, is that these ideas usually go together. Societies that believe in civil liberties, and believe in the value of all human life, usually believe in due process AND believe that people shouldn't be tortured. It's usually those people who think that torture is okay for "them" (the evil do-ers) also think that "they" don't need due process.

It's usually those people who think that prison is okay for "them" (the evil do-ers) also think that "they" don't need due process.

Does that statement still hold true?