The Advantages Of A 'Green' Business

Over the last few years, there has been much publicity on 'going green', and making our homes or businesses more environmentally friendly. Many people are changing to "green" business technologies for different reasons. There are several different studies, such as the study published by the Retail Systems Research, sponsored by Intel, which cited different advantages of green businessES.

The study said that those companies or retailers who have outperformed their competition are building or practicing environment-friendly strategies. Aside from that, operation costs were also reduced. Although, it may appear that going 'green' could actually increase expenditure, since 'green' products tend to be more expensive, businesses and homeowners would eventually feel that they are saving more money in the long run.

Let us take the example of a delivery company. They have started using digital record keeping and communication through e-mail. Eventually, such practices paid off. Their 30,000 strong-company was able to save about £2 million pounds a year just by reducing paper transactions to two pages a day. Simple practices like these may not be appealing initially or may appear insufficient, but surprisingly, they eventually deliver results.

The conclusion is, going 'green' can help your business save more. Even Microsoft are saying that owners, businesses and residences could save £90 every year on electricity just by switching their computers into hibernate mode when not in use.

The government is also recognizing the efforts of the private sector in building a safer environment. There is a federal stimulus bill in 2009 which offers incentives and tax reductions to business who are practicing 'green' methods on reducing their energy consumption by as much as 50%. This stimulus bill is said to have about £50 billion in funds to promote cleaner energy.

Apart from that, there are consumers who stick to brands and companies that they know are taking the environment into consideration. Customers are starting to pay attention to the choices they are making. Which is why it would pay to advertise the company's environmental stance. There are different organizations and PR companies that could help businesses let the world know how they are taking eco-friendly steps. They could help in sensitively promoting your business and instil social awareness and responsibility among audiences and consumers.

Consumers are starting to take an interest in 'green' products and companies since they show that they are safer to use and they are making a contribution to the environment. 'Green' businesses are not only getting more attention from possible customers but from possible investors, also, according to Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

What caused this shift? According to Forest Reinhardt, disasters from the past have contributed to social awareness, such as oil spills and gas leaks which killedmany people and at the same time created a geological hazard. Emerging global problems caused by a series of human activities and effects which are possibly irreversible are also contributing factors.

Following green business practices and strategies would benefit not only businesses, but the entire population. Business owners and managers are part of a community which would benefit by making 'green' and smart choices.

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If Corporations Are Persons

Last year, in the ironically named Citizens United case, the U.S. Supreme Court followed the logic of a line of cases declaring corporations to be "persons" within the meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment and found them equal to human beings in the matter of spending money to influence politics. In August of this year, the smart money's Republican presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, kicked it up a notch by declaring in answer to a hostile taxation question at the Iowa State Fair, "Corporations are people, my friend."

I'm a mere retired judge, but my own view is that corporations are legal technology, ink on paper, and they have no rights not conferred on them by the legislature. I would go further and urge tribal governments to enact business codes that limit corporate activities and require a tribal charter to do business on tribal land. But that's just me.

In keeping with my personal tradition of finding odd connections in the news, I see that the indigenous President of Bolivia, Evo Morales, is about to promulgate la Ley de Derechos de la Madre Tierra. In English, "the law of the rights of Mother Earth."

Morales did not pull this out of his sombrero the idea of humans as one small part of an interconnected universe is common to many indigenous traditions, including my own. It's the difference between asking pardon of an animal if you take its life or believing humans are deputized by God to cut any swath through the natural world that they find convenient.

Moving from spirituality to science, the indigenous worldview finds expression in the Gaia hypothesis of James Lovelock and Lynn Margulis, holding that all animals and all plants and even inorganic materials are part of one incredibly complex system that has a preferred homeostasis. That homeostasis is optimal for the currently existing life, and the hypothesis holds that Gaia will adjust her systems to maintain it. That's a very optimistic idea. Let's hope it pans out.

Completing the circle back to Morales' new law, we have Justice William O. Douglas' dissenting opinion in Sierra Club v. Morton, an opinion that generated as much vitriol against Justice Douglas as any he ever penned, and that's a tough competition. I've heard it cited as evidence that the old man had stayed on the Court too long and his reasoning power had faded.

The Sierra Club had brought a lawsuit to prevent logging of the Mineral King Valley, a land aboriginally occupied by the Yokut people. The Sierra Club's concern was encroachment upon Sequoia National Park.

Who "owns" Sequoia National Park? All citizens of the United States. Therefore, the Supreme Court reasoned, the Sierra Club had no "standing" to bring a lawsuit. If the Sierra Club does, the argument goes, anybody does, and nothing can ever get done because of all the lawsuits.

This theory of standing legalizes an ecological theory proposed by Garrett Hardin. He described the problem of numerous people sharing a resource and therefore an interest in not depleting the resource. However, each individual consulting only his rational self-interest takes amounts of the common resource such that the resource is in fact depleted. This is why governments make hunting and fishing seasons, bag limits, and sometimes ban the taking of juveniles or females.

The short version is that if we all "own" it then nobody owns it and so nobody will take care of it and we will all lose it. "It" might be timber, clean water, or game. Anything that can be depleted.

I am reminded of a report on the depletion of fisheries in the Northeast, where a number of fishers were asked if they could make a 15 percent annual return on their investment forever or a 60 percent return and the fish would be gone in ten years, which would they choose? Invariably, the fishermen who were descended from fishermen chose sustainable harvest, while those who had a trawler as a new investment were more inclined to cash out. This, along with the histories of many Indian nations, suggests that "the tragedy of the commons" has a strong cultural component.

In the Sierra Club case, the Supreme Court institutionalized the tragedy of the commons by holding that nobody outside government can stand up and prevent a collective blunder. Everybody knows government is always a rational actor, right? Especially when corporations can make campaign contributions just like other people.

In dissent, Justice Douglas located the legal standing not in the Sierra Club but in the trees themselves, and earned himself decades of ridicule. Douglas claimed the only proper question was whether the Sierra Club had the resources and the proper motive to actually represent the interests of the trees.

Douglas did not limit this idea to living things. Had his dissent been law, some of us here in Texas would have been able to file a lawsuit some years ago when there was a proposal to allow Enchanted Rock, which I've been told is sacred to the Tonkawa and Comanche peoples, to be cut up and hauled off for building materials.

Thanks to Evo Morales, Justice Douglas' dissent is about to become law in Bolivia. I cannot resist pointing out that in our country, corporations are persons but Mother Earth is not.

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Why Vote? Because Even Imperfect Elections Still Matter

We know democracy's slogan: "Elections matter." Or if that doesn't work, draw on so many other oft-repeated phrases that make up the melodies in our politics. "Vote for change," "stay the course," or these days, "we are the 99 percent," and the result, as George Orwell once observed, is "political" language. Such phrases Orwell wrote are designed to make "lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind."

We want that solid wind and a solid win. Victory feels good, especially when it's "our" side that's the "we."

But the wind is never solid. The same storm that carried Barack Obama to the White House in 2008 also blew strongly for Republicans in the congressional elections of 2010. Both sides two very different ways of looking at the world claim the people's approval for their course of action.

There are structural reasons for that. First, the U.S. Constitution is not a mechanism for solving complicated problems when the nation is this divided. It's too easy for those out of power to just say no.

Consider the political math: Two houses of Congress must agree. One of those chambers, the U.S. Senate, essentially requires a supermajority of 60 votes before an idea can take hold.

The truth is neither house of Congress actually represents the will of the people (whatever that is).

The House reflects 435 congressional districts designed for the most part to be ideological islands where the majority is determined every decade through the redistricting process. Only a few house seats, just enough to decide who runs things, are actually competitive.

The Senate is even less democratic. A Senator from Wyoming has an upper chamber vote that represents 544,000 people, while a Senator from California has the same single vote on behalf of 37 million citizens. Why is it more fair for one state's residents to have two votes in the Senate than, say, 5 million American Indians and Alaska Natives represented by some 500 nations, villages and tribal governments?

So why bother? Why vote? It's easy to dismiss the process as unfair and irrelevant. But that's not true either. The fact is imperfect elections do matter. (Hardly a slogan, I know.)

Four years ago there was strong support for Obama from Indian Country, unprecedented excitement actually. Many thought that election would bring about a new kind of government one that would solve many of the problems that had been lingering for decades. And, as I wrote before the last elections, by any objective measure Obama has been an engaged and effective president. There's a long list of successes: the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, solid budget requests, key appointments, and soon to be a third annual meeting with tribal leaders and the White House.

Yet somehow that doesn't seem to be enough. There's not nearly the enthusiasm across Indian Country for the upcoming election, let alone the president's re-election campaign.

But the Republican alternative is significant reason to vote. All of the Republican candidates for president are advocating deep budget cuts. The frontrunner, Mitt Romney, has a plan to cut a $100 billion from Medicaid and then shift the remaining funds to state governments through block grants. This action would, at least if Romney was successful, mean less money for an already underfunded Indian health system. Other Republican candidates would consider that generous. They'd return government to its place, at funding levels that might have been appropriate during the 1950s.

A year from this week we will once again go to the polls. Sure, there will be promises that meet all of our expectations. And, for some, that's probably enough (though disappointment will follow).

But for the rest of us, this election ought to be about real alternatives in flawed democracy. On one hand, we need to keep pressing for reforms that would help this country live up to its ideals. At the same time, we need to elect candidates that do their best while seeing the landscape for what it is. No matter how hard the wind blows.

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The Gist’ of Inheritance Tax

Inheritance Tax 2011:

If the deceased was married, the surviving spouse can file married filing jointly for the year after the death.

States Inheritance Tax Laws

States that currently collect a tax on inherited estate money or property are Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Iowa. Instead of imposing an estate tax in this situation, there are many states that impose an inheritance tax.

Since each state is likely to tax their residents differently, individuals need to research the inheritance tax laws in their state or hire the services of a professional tax attorney.

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Tax form 1040
November 20th, 2011

1040 Tax Form
1040 Tax Form Information and Instructions

Starting in 1916, tax form 1040 was instituted as an annual requirement for Americans filing an individual income tax return.

It’s typically referred to as the “long form” to distinguish it from other variants.

If you have an uncomplicated tax situation – no itemized deductions, no capital gain or loss, no business expenses etc. – then you may be able to use the simplified form 1040a (the short form), or maybe even the 1040ez.

Tax Form 1040 is made up of two pages, but this does not include the dozen possible attachments. Here’s a brief explanation of the possible attachments you may need:

•Schedule A: is used to itemize allowable deductions against income
•Schedule B: is used to enumerate interest or dividend income and is required if either interest or dividends received for the tax year exceeds $1,500 from all sources

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Exactly why Medical Gloves Are Crucial For Any Medical Pack
November 18th, 2011

Medical equipment is a set of specialized equipment that’s used by medical practitioners to diagnose or perhaps deal with several medical situations and patients right down to the bits we dont see, like the right gloves and syringes etc. You will find thousands of various kinds of medical equipment accessible in the market today from no more than a clipper or perhaps a pair of scissors to as complex as CT scanners as well as other types of huge machines which are used in cancer prognosis as well as treatment.

Not only do firms manufactuer products for the health centers and hostipal wards, but they are furthermore necessary within the workplace and home. Having the proper gear for every unexpected emergency is vital, not only will it assist the aid of the wounded persons, but may also keep you protected as you take care of them. Purchasing healthcare equipment for such locations is easy, because you can locate them in any supermarket rather than the drug store. But for the big products, such as scanners, cardiovascular monitors and x-ray machines, this process must be planned out rigorously.

To cater these large requirements of medical equipment, there are lots of specialized industries which make surgical and medical equipment. This is to become noted here that medical equipment is extremely distinct towards the other industrial graded or even everyday use equipment. It is to be produced with unique materials which are resistant against germs as well as may be easily sanitized. In the end, you need to diagnose and cure the disease, don’t cause it!

Medical and surgical equipment production has become a business by itself. There are countries as well as manufacturers that concentrate within the manufacturing of medical equipment. The majority of the simple medical equipment like scissors, clippers, cutters, blades as well as knives are generally manufactured from stainless. They’re fairly uncomplicated as well as simpler to use and pay for. The revolutionary and technologically advanced medical equipment utilized for the prognosis as well as cure of intricate illnesses like all kinds of cancers, HIV, Hepatitis as well as tumors are much much more complex as well as difficult to purchase because of extremely high expenses associated with them.

If you are anticipating to setting up your own medical center or even healthcare facility, you will need a huge supply of medical equipment including standard diagnostic medical equipment for example nitrile gloves, scissors and trimmers to more complex including X-ray machine, Ultrasound equipment, medical laser equipment and many other more complicated and expensive equipment. Prior to selecting what to purchase as well as what not to buy, it is always great to think exactly what kind of clinic or hospital you’re planning to open. If it is going to be a general clinic or hospital then you can purchase simple medical equipment yet if you’re making a complex clinic or hospital then it will set you back a lot of cash. You should probably get a funding organization or perhaps a financial institution when you have such ideas.

It is also crucial to hold some medical equipment in your residence. This really is referred to as a medical kit. This includes all medical equipment which is required for giving first-aid to someone. It is a must in your automobile and your home to assist if there are urgent matters, such as accidents.

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The Big To-Do on Federal Tax Rates 2011

Federal payroll tax rates are determined by the US government, and they can vary from time to time, depending on the tax laws that are passed or extended. It is important that you keep yourself updated with the amount of federal payroll tax that you need to pay, so that you can plan your finances better.

The percentage of your paycheck that is withheld as federal payroll tax varies according to your income level and filing status. Presently, it can range from 10% to 35% of the salary or wage that you receive from your employer. If you are filing as a single person and you make $2,100 to $10,600 a year, you will have 10% of your pay withheld for federal payroll tax. If you are in the income tax bracket of $10,600 to $36,600, your income will be taxed at a rate of 15%.

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Allied Health Career a Job that is Right for You

There are various kinds of allied health professions in the health care industry. One area of allied health care can be all in regards to the paperwork regarding medical practices and providers, and is handled by medical assistants and coders. One other area of the allied health care covers affected person providers that involve direct contact, and examples of professions in this particular field are physiotherapy, speech pathology and psychology. They will be assisting the docs in terms of gathering details about the patient’s response to treatment.

::list of allied health careers::

Allied health is the health professionals who cowl many jobs in the space of health care, however it does not embrace dentists, medical doctors and nurses. So many individuals are getting into this kind of profession as a result of benefits that it may give. They make up a huge portion of the in health care as they offer a lot interest in several jobs. The benefits that they are offering are highly beneficial. It is a truth usually acknowledges that there’s a big demand in Allied healthcare professions because of many factors. The increasing aged inhabitants and the rising specialization of health care practices contribute to the need for the need for health care professionals. Many individuals choose to engage themselves such jobs as a result of they can actually enter the healthcare trade without the required training required to be a doctor. All that they must do is to train to supply direct choose to the sufferers and support services. Furthermore, they’ll work in areas just like the technical and therapeutic services.

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Don’t Lose Sleep Over Your Personal Finances: Try These Tips First

A good skill to learn is how to manage your money before you start your adult life. It’s never too early or too late to learn about personal finances. It is never too late to become more educated about personal finance issues. The tips in this article can help you out.
Manage your money to be successful. You need to invest your profits as necessary in order to build your business. You can turn your profit to investments but make smart investments so that you see a return. Set goals for what you are going to hold onto as profit and which funds will be directed towards capital.
Saving money for emergencies or retirement is an essential part of any effective personal financial management plan. Saving money should be a top priority , not one that you keep putting off. Make a habit of reserving a particular sum of money for your savings each month. Pay yourself first, and you will begin to accumulate a financial cushion.
Wherever you go, bring along a small envelope. You can store receipts, business cards, and other important items in it. Keeping up with these items can help you to maintain more accurate financial records. You may need them to compare to your credit card statements in the small chance that you are double charged.
Replace old incandescent light bulbs with CFL light bulbs. Not only will you be lowering your electric bill as a result, but you will also be doing something good for the environment. The lifespan of CFL bulbs is much longer than the traditional bulbs. By purchasing fewer bulbs, you won’t be spending as much money.
Patience is a valuable asset when it comes to managing your money. When electronics are first introduced onto the market, there is a mad rush by consumers to purchase them. However, if you take a step back and wait for a bit, the price will likely drop. This will save you money in the long run.
Don’t beat yourself up if you make a mistake with your finances, as everybody does sometimes. Your bank may waive a bounced check fee if it was a one time mistake. Of course, this is a one-time thing that banks offer only to those who maintain a positive balance and manages their account effectively.
You need to make sure you break down your expenses into categories. Put all your necessary expenses in one section and your unnecessary expenses in another. By doing this, your budget will be much easier to follow. When you see how much you will need for each expense, it becomes easier to follow a budget.
Take a look at your credit report on a regular basis. You are entitled to a free credit report every year, and there are other ways to monitor it for little to no cost. It’s good practice to review your credit report twice a year. When you review it, check for charges that you aren’t aware of or any other information that does not seem correct and look into it immediately.
Loan
Having a savings account into which you regularly deposit money will help you achieve financial stability. You will be able to face unforeseen events and will not have to get a 1 hour loan when you’re strapped for cash. What you save does not have be a large amount, but always put something in the account each month. Even saving a little bit each month adds up over time.
It may not be possible for everyone, but avoiding debt as much as you can is one of the most sound financial decisions you can make. However, there are exceptions, such as car loans or mortgages. In everyday life, do not depend on credit cards or loans to cover your living expenses.
Being sensible with money is one of the hallmarks of a reliable, mature individual. Fortunately, this is an easy trait to acquire. With a little time and studying, anyone can become better at managing their money. The tips you just read can make you a true financial whiz when it comes to your own finances.

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Manage Your Budget With Easy To Use Personal Finance Ideas

December 14th, 2011

Dealing with your personal finances can be stressful and difficult. When you gain knowledge about the subject though, it’s easier to deal with money. In this article, you will be provided with some information on how to best deal with your personal financial matters.
Practicing patience can prevent you from overpaying for the things you desire. People clamor to buy the newest electronics without even thinking about the cost. For instance, you can save a lot of electronics by waiting for the price to drop. This will give you much more money to use for other things.
No person desires eviction or foreclosure. Consider getting a cheaper house with cheaper rent or payments if you’re in a bad place financially. You don’t want to be kicked out of your own home once your efforts to repay fail. It is far better to sell or move out of your home of your own accord.
Never believe that a credit repair organization can guarantee success in improving your history. A lot of companies out there make vague statements about how they will repair your credit history. But what worked for someone else may have no bearing on your credit issues. It’s simply not a case of ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to credit repairs, so there can be no guarantee of success.
You can’t successfully manage personal finance without saving money. Saving money should be a top priority , not one that you keep putting off. You can tell yourself that having to save is part of your bill paying process. By doing this, you will start to build up an emergency fund.
Check your credit report regularly. Many resources allow you to view your credit score free of charge. Request a free credit report two or three times per year and look for charges you didn’t make, accounts you didn’t open, or other suspicious activity that suggests someone has stolen your identity.
You can improve your finances dramatically by taking advantage of available discounts. Lose your affiliation to certain brands and only buy when you have coupons. For instance, if you regularly purchase a specific brand of detergent, you should start prioritizing other brands if there are coupons available.
Create a budget and follow it until you are able to dig yourself out of debt. Whether you prefer a pen-and-paper approach or software that you can use on your personal computer and smartphone, a budget helps you to pinpoint spending habits that you can change. It can also help curb unnecessary spending.
Try seeking out non-essential areas on your expenditures and cut back on them if you notice you have no money left after paying your expenditures. For instance, you may not be able to handle not going out to eat dinner at all for long. Though, if you decrease eating out each month by half, you can conserve funds and still appreciate dining out.
Loan
Making sound, responsible financial decisions begins by avoiding debt whenever possible. Taking a guaranteed payday loan for a car or a house is acceptable, as long as you can afford it. When it comes to the smaller, everyday expenses, though, credit is a bad way to meet your needs.
To ensure financial stability, you should open an account that you can put some savings in and deposit to it on a regular basis. You will be able to face unforeseen events and will not have to get a loan when you’re strapped for cash. You may not be able to put much in each month, but it is still important to save regularly.
Like the introduction of this article said, dealing with your personal finances can stress you out. Knowing ways to deal with your finances can aid you in lowering your stress. The purpose of this article has been to help relieve some of your financial stresses and offer you some guidance on how best to move ahead.

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Death Penalty Pros

Death penalty pros and cons have always been a matter of debate. Many are in favor of capital punishment, while others, still show pity on the criminals. This article is for those who are willing to know why death penalty is justifiable.
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"Capital punishment is as fundamentally wrong as a cure for crime as charity is wrong as a cure for poverty." ~ Henry Ford

The issue whether death penalty is justified or not, has been under debate since ages. The practice of criminals being brutally punished to death has been traced back to ancient history. Speaking of now, death penalty pros and cons are evident in the laws of the United States as well, where 13 states (Iowa, Alaska, District of Columbia, Maine, Hawaii, Michigan, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, North Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin) do not support death penalty! Every coin has 2 sides, the only thing that matters is which side according to us is more important. Before I present my views on vouching in favor of capital punishment, let us have a look at some real life cases.

Death Penalty Statistics Including a Second Chance

Mentioned below are a few cases of crime, where the criminal was shown mercy upon by the law, but no mercy was shown to the victims by these criminals.

Case 1: Katy Davis noticed 3 strangers outside her apartment in Austin, Texas. She went away then, but later when she came back, she was attacked by Charles Rector, who committed a murder previously and was on parole. Katy was forced to open the door and after ransacking her apartment, she was abducted by the men to a lake where she was beaten mercilessly, gang-raped, shot in the head and continuously forced underwater until she finally drowned and died.

Case 2: Mildred Weiss, a mother of two, was murdered by Robert Massie in 1965 in San Gabriel, Calif. Massie testified against his accomplice just hours before his execution and therefore, his punishment was commuted to life imprisonment. However, he somehow got a second chance and was paroled only to rob and murder a business person named Boris Naumoff in San Francisco eight months after he was paroled. So much for a second chance!

Case 3: Jeffrey Barney raped, sodomized and strangled Ruby Longsworth to death in Pasadena, Texas. The reason being that Ruby called Barney "a bum". Interestingly, Ruby had met Barney through a prison ministry and had helped him get paroled as he was involved in an auto theft sentence. That is how the kindness was returned... by strangling and raping her to death.

The list of such stories can go on and on! All these murders shouldn't have taken place if these murderers were sentenced to capital punishment at the first place and shown no mercy! Now you might say that this is the perfect example for 'an eye for an eye'. I say that if 'one eye' can make 'other eyes closed forever', it is better for it to get destroyed in the first place! I agree, there are cases where a criminal can change. But it makes no sense to me, to put thousand lives at stake to save the life of the one criminal that 'can change'. Below are some more points that support my favor of death penalty.

Why Favor Death Penalty?

When it comes to the 10 pros and cons of capital punishment, the cons are usually the people who believe in showing mercy towards the criminals, hoping that giving them a second chance would make them come to the right path! The other option that the law has, is that of life imprisonment, which would be absolutely fine if there were no loop holes in the law of the nation. Yes, loophole being the option of getting paroled and many other such scenarios. Below are the death penalty pros that according to me, are more than enough to support death penalty.

The fear of Death: It is human nature to fear death. Imposing death punishment for brutal crimes like rapes and murders will definitely make the criminal think twice before committing a crime! Most people argue that most murders are done in the heat of anger or passion! But there are also people who are professional murderers. Looking at both sides, I feel that death penalty will surely deter a person from committing a crime.

No Escape: It is easier for a person to escape imprisonment in the long run, but no one can escape death! We have seen in the above mentioned real life scenarios where criminals managed to escape prison and punishment, only to commit more crimes and making the innocent suffer! That I think, is more than enough to support this statement.

It's Retribution, Not Killing!: Most people who are against death penalty, say that it is just taking revenge or killing under the name of law! Well, I, personally believe that life is precious and sacred. Which is why, I think that a person who has taken it away, must realize that by committing this crime, he has also taken away the right to have his own life. When I think about the victim and their loved ones, I think that letting the criminal facing 'inconvenience for some time in prison' would be unfair to them. It's not the law that is killing the criminal, he chose it with his own actions!

Saving the Innocent: "If we execute murderers and there is in fact no deterrent effect, we have killed a bunch of murderers. If we fail to execute murderers, and doing so would in fact have deterred other murders, we have allowed the killing of a bunch of innocent victims. I would much rather risk the former. This, to me, is not a tough call." ~ John McAdams - Marquette University/Department of Political Science, on deterrence

Law Should Provide Justice: We follow the law so that we get justice when what happened to us is unfair! Even the victims ask for mercy, plead for their lives, but if the criminals show no mercy, why should the law be merciful to the criminal? I think that the death penalty too, is lenient when it comes to justice. At least the guilty criminals get time to say their last words, make a will, mentally prepare themselves for death. Did the innocent victims get a chance to do so? If you knew that you would be killed instantly after committing a murder, would you kill?

So these were some of the death penalty pros. Before I end this article, I would also like to comment on one of the main argument that is included in the death penalty pros and cons list. Most people who favor death penalty cons say that at times, even the innocent have to be a victim of capital punishment! Well, I wouldn't deny that this is one of the death penalty facts, however, I would like to quote the following in answer to this statement.

"As for the penal system, accidentally executing an innocent person, I must point out that in this imperfect world, citizens are required to take certain risks in exchange for safety." ~ Wesley Lowe

If the only reason to not favor death penalty pros is to fear the execution of the innocent, well, isn't it a risk to drive a car, you could meet with an accident! Or to take a flight, there could be a plane crash! It is sad to have had a few such cases where the innocent were punished. But these cases are minute when compared to the cases where lack of death penalty has cost the lives of thousands of innocent people. Should death penalty be abolished? You choose!
By Shalu Bhatti
Last Updated: 9/23/2011
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Death Penalty Vs. Life in Prison

Death penalty, the ultimate form of punishment that we have in our justice system. It definitely helps in reducing crime rates. Or does it? Is it really the best way to do justice? Maybe. Maybe not. There is another option, life imprisonment without parole. Let's see how these two match up.
In recent times, the death penalty has come under a lot of scrutiny for reasons varying from how effective it is in reducing crime rates, to its cost. 58 countries still actively use it, while 96 have given it up. There are some countries which have not used the death penalty for at least 10 years, using it only under special circumstances like treason during wartime. Slowly but surely, governments all over the world are turning to life imprisonment as an alternative. Some countries practice life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, some grant a life term of 25 years. There are factors in favor of both sentences. Which one is better? Is it possible to choose the better alternative? This tricky debate has been raging for decades, if not centuries! After all, it is the life of a human being that is being discussed here.

Death Penalty Vs. Life Imprisonment

1. Death Penalty

Arguments For
Arguments Against

2. Life in Prison

Arguments For
Arguments Against

Death Penalty

The United States has a history of performing executions which date back to the very early 1600s, when the first person was recorded to have been executed for spying. Last year (in 2010), the United States executed 46 people who had been sentenced to death. There has also been a change in the definition of capital crimes and, while earlier, even crimes other than homicide were considered as capital crimes based on their gravity, now, only homicide crimes are classified as capital crimes (crimes which warrant death / capital punishment). There are cases in history where people have been executed for stealing horses, practicing witchcraft, as well as for helping slaves. Quite a few people were posthumously pardoned.

Support for the death penalty in the US is dropping over the years, and while some people are still for it, an increasing number are strongly against it, and now it is used very rarely, only in cases of aggravated murder or felony. The rules of the death penalty and its application also vary, depending on the states / jurisdictions. While there are some jurisdictions that have completely banned it, others are still undecided about when to apply it, while 34 jurisdictions do not permit it at all. There is a steady shift from the death penalty towards the more humane life imprisonment.
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Arguments For:

• The first and most obvious reason would be, that the death penalty gives the family and friends of the victim closure. The whole process is long and drawn out, draining the victim's close ones emotionally and financially. The death penalty is a sort of consolation or closure for their long suffering, a way of closing off that horrid chapter in their lives.

• With DNA testing (99% reliable), the possibility of sentencing the wrong, innocent people to death, as used to happen before, is almost completely eliminated, which prompts many to ask, if there is no doubt that the person convicted is guilty, why not sentence him/her to death?

• It is considered that the death penalty acts as a very strong deterrent for criminals, that it stops them from committing crimes and lowers the crime rates. Prison time is enough to stop most people, but for some people, a stronger reason is needed. Criminals consider their odds before taking someone's life. The fact that most criminals who have been sentenced to death appeal for life imprisonment, itself shows that they fear death more than life in prison.
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Arguments Against:

• When the court sentences a person to death, the person sentenced will appeal, till he exhausts all his appeals. This whole process of appeals is very costly, and in almost 9 out of 10 cases, quite fruitless. It is just a method of delaying the sentence. It puts a strain on the economical and human resources of the judicial system.

• People who were wrongly convicted and sentenced to death, and were later found to be innocent, were posthumously pardoned and declared innocent. But this makes hardly any difference to the loved ones, because it is not going to bring back the dead person. Although the chances of sentencing the wrong person have reduced to almost negligible because of the accuracy of DNA and other tests, it is still a possibility, and is one of the main arguments against the death penalty.

• For every death sentence there are multiple appeals. These pile up and clog the court system, blocking the road for other important cases and delaying them.

• If the government wants to send a message that killing is wrong, how can it convey the same by killing a person? Killing to convince people that killing is wrong, doesn't sound right, does it?

• There have been many cases where the people who were convicted and sentenced to death were posthumously found to be innocent. This meant that the government killed innocent people, by mistake of course, but caused an innocent death nonetheless.

• And last but not the least, the killing of the criminal is not going to bring back the dead. No matter how much hate you have, how much anger or vengeance you have, it's not going to fill the emptiness caused by the death of a loved one. Instead, if the person is alive, there is a chance for him to turn over a new leaf.
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Life In Prison

This sentence implies that the convicted person has to spend the rest of his life in jail, and depending on the rules of the country or state, he may or may not be eligible for parole. Which means that there are basically two types of life sentences in the United States - determinate and indeterminate. In a determinate life sentence, the convicted is sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole, and in an indeterminate life sentence the convicted is given less stringent sentences, like 20 years to life, or 30 years to life, etc., wherein after serving a certain amount of time in jail, he can be let out on parole or granted a reprieve or then his sentence is cut short to the number of years he has served in prison already, assuming that he has served the minimum amount.

In the case of convicts who are below 18 years of age / juveniles, there is a possibility of sentencing even these young people to life imprisonment without any chance of them being let out in the future as well. This is a really strict practice, and many countries have banned it, but it is still present in a few countries including the United States. A person sentenced to life imprisonment has to serve a minimum period of anywhere between 15 to 30 years in the U.S. to be declared eligible for parole (does not apply in all cases), and he could be pardoned or granted amnesty by either the president or the governor of state.
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Arguments For:

• The cost is a very important factor when it comes to deciding whether to sentence a criminal to death or life imprisonment, and it is in favor of life imprisonment. The cost of carrying out a death sentence is more than that of carrying out the life imprisonment sentence by a factor of 2 to 5, some say 10, because carrying out a death sentence involves endless appeals, many expensive procedures like DNA testing, and others which drag on for years, even decades! Other resources like time and effort are also used up much more in case of the death penalty. So much so, that it becomes an impractical decision to sentence a person to death.

• We as a society, need to learn to NOT THINK in terms of "an eye for an eye". "An eye for an eye would make the whole world blind", is what Mahatma Gandhi said. Death as punishment for death is not the solution. Supporters of life imprisonment say that the death sentence encourages a culture that is okay with violence.

• There have to be cases where the nature of the crime has to be taken into account. In case of what is called passion-crimes, or crimes which are not premeditated / planned out beforehand, it seems extreme to sentence the person to death. Everybody has their lows, and if the person in question (specially juveniles), wants to change and is repentant, then does he not deserve a second chance?

• The life imprisonment sentence can be as harsh as the death sentence, maybe harsher. Supporters of life imprisonment argue that life in prison, decades and decades of living in a cage, in an environment of rape and violence and being treated like animals is worse than the death sentence. With the death sentence, the suffering is over quickly. If the government really wants to punish the convicted, why not make it really count?
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Arguments Against:

• Life imprisonment is not a good way to ensure that the criminal doesn't commit such crimes again. What if he/she kills someone in the prison? Or worse still, escapes and goes on a killing spree! Although these seem like outlandish things to consider, they are possible nonetheless. So, if sentencing such dangerous criminals to death means keeping them away from the other prisoners and society, then it sounds like a reasonable idea.

• Death penalty cases where the criminal appeals for a reduced sentence, attracts a lot of lawyers to defend the criminal. They do it for the publicity. This means that there is a chance, that the guilty will be acquitted on the basis of some technicality or some manipulation.

• There is also the case of the government looking more sympathetic towards the criminal than the victim. The government needs to send out a strong message that they will not tolerate such criminals. Sometimes, a life imprisonment sentence instead of a death sentence can lead to the public being extremely unhappy with the justice system or the government.
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So this is how it is. The pros and the cons. Both have them. The world seems to be moving towards life imprisonment. If we are to move towards being a more humane society, we need to think more rationally and not in a prejudiced or emotional manner. But maybe we will never be able to come to a firm decision in favor of either.
By Gauri Huddar
Last Updated: 12/20/2011

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