>>>>>>>Captial punishment is not a deterrent because the criminals sit on death row for 20+ years, at taxpayer expense, with all the
>>>>>>>amenities of a modern 5 start hotel. Why would a career criminal care if they were put on death row? They're going to die of old
>>>>>>>age anyhow. Most prisons rival health clubs with TV's, weight rooms, handball and basketball courts, etc. Prison is most certainly
>>>>>>>not a deterrent when life in the inside is better than life on the outside.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Have you visited a prison? I have, and if you think it's anything like a 5-star hotel, you're sorely mistaken.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Tamar
>>>>>
>>>>>Yes, on the nightly news every night. haven't you seen the inmates watching tv, playing ping poing, basketball, handball, and lifting weights?
>>>>>
>>>>>It's practically club med.
>>>>
>>>>You have no idea what you're talking and I dare to go visit one. Tamar said she has visited one and so have I (had a girlfriend who's brother had gotten in some trouble). Anyone who's actually been inside one of these facilities knows the truth - which apparently you do not.
>>>
>>>
>>>I repeat my question - haven't you seen the inmates watching tv, playing ping poing, basketball, handball, and lifting weights? I see this on TV all the time. I have. I can point you to mnay vids on Google showing this.
>>>
>>>So, if you havn't see this, then maybe I'm not the one who has no idea what he's talking about?
>>>
>>>I'm sure prison is not picnic, but at the same time, why inmates are allowed these things doesn't sound like punishment to em.
>>
>>Of course I've seen these things on TV. I've also seen riots, rapes, and murders in prisons reported on the news too. I'm not going to try to have a debate with you about it because you're argument is that "you saw it on tv so it's club med" and it's not possible for you to have a clue about the reality of what USA prisons are like based on a few choice new clips that the department of corrections allowed the media to have. Like I said (and Tamar indicated) - go visit one and get back with me.
>
>My point is this, and it's correct, that inmates have WAY too many liberties in prison. Maybe if they all spent 23 hours a day in their
>cells, with no windows, in complete isloation, then maybe prison would be a deterrent. But since they can go play, excersize, and get
>three sqaures a day, doing the time doesn't fit the crime.

I can't decide which is worse, pronouncing your opinion correct or speaking of prisoners as an undifferentiated mass. You think prisoners have a nice life? You try it for a week.