Death Penalty Disillusionment

For the majority of my life I have been a supporter of the law, the judicial system and the death penalty without question. Police officers were to be trusted, judges were to respected and when the final decision was made, a rite of the execution was unquestionable. Some would refer to that as “the good old days” but now we find, more and more, that the good old days were far from good.

The case of Jonathan Fleming, arrested in NYC in 1989 and accused of murder despite significant documentation that showed he was over 1,000 miles away, is a perfect example of a system gone wrong and nobody is being held responsible for taking away 25 years from this mans life. Judges cannot be sued, prosecutors (according to our Supreme Court) cannot be held accountable and police officers … well, the level of corruption in law enforcement is so wide spread it’s no wonder so many states have opted for more relaxed conceal/carry laws. With so many problems throughout the system and a body of legislatures to lazy, ignorant, or perhaps fearful to make the logical changes to the system, it’s just another unfortunate brick in the wall that will eventually lead to civil insurrection and possible war within the very boundaries of our country. With so many death penalty cases being overturned due to DNA evidence, recanting of sworn testimony, and faulty if not completely inaccurate evidence it is a wonder that we can justify a death penalty in any case where the defendant has not given a full, written, uncontested statement.

Adding insult to injury, in a number of cases the state has forced the falsely imprisoned defendant to sign a complete waver before the state will release them and to date, few if any state governors have issued a full pardon with a written apology for wrongful prosecution & incarceration. If ever there was a good reason to hold the entire system accountable, this is certainly a perfect example.

Far too many people have been convicted on the word of cell mates and other questionable sources that, through the manipulation of the police, prosecutors and courts by way of bribery, receive false testimony in order to support their false claims. These are often given greater weight than family members or others that can testify as to the incorrectness of the testimony. Bottom line; the word of a jailbird carries greater weight than another law abiding citizen.

Yes, we have seen our elected officials, our law enforcement & and our judicial system corrupted to the point that respect of the everyday citizen is all but gone. Our military continues to erode to the point that soldiers occasionally take up arms against their leaders and the captains of industry have free rein to conduct business any way they please just as long as they make a buck. And the medical community … oh, don’t get me started. Even our intelligence agencies rudimentarily break ever rule considering the treatment of suspects up to and beyond interrogation tactics the surpass even the worst tactics used by the Nazi’s, and there is no punishment while all the time they pry and violate every citizens even most basic right of privacy without fear of prosecution.

America remains one of the greatest nations on earth, but I fear that, like the dollar, it’s value continues to erode and one must wonder if the time will come when it has no value. If there were a “bit coin” of government, an investment may be in order.