Comment on deltoid:
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"The question of death penalty is like abortion, it's an ideological question and studies like that are pretty irrelevant."
That depends. Yes, it's a moral issue: death penalty will still be wrong even if it's effective in reducing crime/improving the economy/getting the "right" people elected/whatever. Same with abortion, I say. But that doesn't mean studies are worthless. For instance, a recent study in Norway found that a large percentage of women having abortions felt that their boyfriend forced them. That's important both to proponents (because they'd better think of something to do about it!) and opponents (because it illustrates nicely that legality affects what people can be forced to do - the same reason slavery is illegal, and legalized prostitution is problematic).
Posted by vintermann at March 7, 2006 11:35 AM