Opening Moment 2

This article discusses a new technology that is being developed called wireless chargeing. The concept pertains to the use of an electromagnetic wave that powers certain types of phones. In this manor, if the phone is within a certain radius then it will start charging.

Strabucks in California have begun to install this tech.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/18/att-and-starbucks-to-bring-wireless-phone-chargers-to-some-coffee-shops/?ref=technology&_r=1

The Death Penalty

— Should the United States stop using the death penalty? Why?

The United States should continue using the death penalty for those who have committed seriously heinous crimes. I agree with the second article in that for these villians, jail is a retirement home. Once they have committed a horrendous crime, they get free food, free places to live, and have no work to do at all. Keeping them alive is a burden on society because this means that hard working Americans, who are working, must pay to support these law breakers. In addition to this, if capital punishment is enforced, and then it may even deter crimes from occuring. If someone knows they will die because they murder someone, or rape another, instead of simply being shipped of to prison, they probably will think twice about the act.

— Do you have concerns about the fair application of the death penalty, or about the possibility of the criminal justice system executing an innocent person? Do you think capital punishment is “cruel and unusual punishment” and therefore prohibited by the Constitution?

Certainly care needs to be taken when considering someone for the death penalty. It would be equal to murder if innocent people were executed via capital punishment. This should not  be a deterent from using capital punishment, nor is the death penalty cruel and unusual. It is not cruel to make a thief return money he stole, and although murder is different, the crime should fit the punishment. It should not be expected that the person be tortured or beaten because this certainly is cruel in our society, but if the person is executed in a humane manor, this neither cruel nor unusual.

— Do you think the death penalty serves a purpose, like deterring crime, providing relief for victims’ families or imparting “real justice?”

I absolutely belive that the death penalty deters some crimes from ever occuring. As stated above, prison is an easy place to be in the US. The prohibition of "Cruel and Unusal Punishment" produces this. If a criminal thought he might end up dead as the result of his actions, he would be less likely to commit them in the first place. In addition to this, some families might feel the need for vengence. This could lead to more crimes from the famlies of the victim, but if the person was dead, their vengence would be appeased.

— Do you agree with Mr. Dieter that the death penalty is becoming “irrelevant” and “may not last another 10 years?”

The death penalty is certainly not irrelevant. It may die out within the next ten years because  their are many who view it as inhumane. I believe their are practical applications for the death penalty for certain crimes, but others are not of the same opinion.