[mikestew]

When reworded, I don't know that I'd call your points "gains": 1. Saving some money by killing people 2. Exacting revenge

We might differ in opinion on the role of government, though. Personally, I don't think either task is the job we want our government to be in.

[giarc]

I totally agree with you. I was just speaking as though we needed to justify capital punishment somehow. I also shouldn't use "our" and "we". I live in a country without capital punishment so my perspective is from a far outsider.

[mikestew]

Fair enough, and you pulled off playing the part well enough that I believed you might be sincere. :-) Sadly, part of the reason I thought you might be sincere is because those are the two most commonly used reasons for capital punishment. One can fancy it up with language so that it sounds noble and civilized ("victims' families can have closure"), but it boils down to "we're civilized and humane until it costs money" and "the victims' families want to see the motherfucker fry". (I only raise the last point as a counter-argument to those that have no more idea what the victims' families want than I do.)