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by Luc Dupré |
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Andrea Yates should
go free.
Yes, you read right. Andrea Yates, the woman who drowned her 5 children last June one-by-one in her bathtub, should not be given the death penalty. Or even life in prison. Murder is certainly a criminal act, as it is an invasion of one's personal liberty, under all circumstances. And like all criminals, murderers should be forced to pay restitution. But in this situation, such restitution would be nearly impossible. Various institutions have determined the value of a life to be between $300,000 and $7 million, using everything from projected earnings in a lifetime, to hurt incurred to family members as a result of the loss of life. The math then indicates that Yates has removed between $1.5 million and $35 million from the economy by killing her five children. But putting Yates to death would cost even more money - on the tune of at least $1 million, to be precise. And life imprisonment would probably cost even more – somewhere between one and two million. So where's the logic in forcing the people of this country to be penalized twice for the actions of a criminal? It simply doesn't make sense. And that goes for all criminal activities. A woman who is raped should not have to be a victim a second time by having to pay, through theft from her paycheck ("taxation"), for the rehabilitation and punishment of the man who raped her. The simple solution in the case of Yates is of course, to let her go. Why not let the free market decide what is right for Andrea Yates? Think Andrea Yates would be able to get a job? I doubt it. Think she would be able to show her face in public anywhere? I doubt it. Think she would survive very long, even with sympathizers such as her husband at her side? I doubt it. Forcing Andrea Yates into a prison cell where she is protected, guaranteed food, shelter, clothing, warmth and "medication" is called punishment and rehabilitation by the U.S. government. I call it a free ride on my stolen money. This foolery of sending Andrea Yates to jail on my dime is just another checkmark on the blackboard of government absurdity. At least it's yet another justification for anarcho-capitalism.March 25, 2002 |
| Luc Dupré is a free thinking anarcho-capitalist who is fed up with the inability of government to solve problems. He waits for the day when he can lock, load and aim – but hopes that day never comes. |
