Singapore is one of the safest places on earth.
runner,
Having a National Service has a lot to do with their sound mentality.

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Dear o sung wu,

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You ask :

« Should this ultimate punishment [the death penalty] be revisited for certain atrocious crime(s)? »

While you obviously have Australia in mind, it already applies, of course, in a number of countries that englobe the majority of the world’s population.

I wrote an article entitled “Justice – A Matter of Life and Death” that you may like to check out. You can access it by clicking on the following link and going to Submission N° 133 :

http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Legal_and_Constitutional_Affairs/Dying_with_Dignity/Submissions

Perhaps I should explain that the article was published in the Jul-Sept edition of the Australian Quarterly in 2014. I later discovered, quite accidentally, that somebody had submitted it to a federal parliamentary inquiry that year on proposed legalisation of euthanasia in Australia.

As I had no objection to that – quite the contrary – I just let it ride.

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Hi there, BANJO PATERSON...

Thank you, Rodney, for drawing my attention to your submission, published in July - Sept ed. of the Australian Quarterly, 2014. You penned a superb piece. Accordingly, thank you so much for sharing it with all the contributors, who've shown some interest in this topic.

I note you spoke of death; both by suicide (euthanasia) & State-sanctioned execution. I'm bound to say; I don't approve of either.

Of the former, provided the patient is appropriately medicated to ease pain & suffering, my position is, to allow nature to take her course. Moreover, I understand we have very effective palliative care in this country.

On the question of Punishment - by permitting the authorities to wilfully kill another human being, well I'm on record, as being totally against it.

As a former detective of many years service, I've attended and have been appointed as Case Officer, in many questionable or suspicious deaths. Some turn out to be; of natural causes; accidental; or suicide, while others are clearly a homicide. I might add, death in all its raw imagery is rarely attractive and peaceful as seen on TV & in the movies. And at times, in the latter, utterly grotesque.

When in uniform, years ago, I attended a prang involving two passenger vehicles (cars) a head-on. A simple case of falling into a stupor at the wheel while engaged in prolonged night driving AND - 'while exhausted.' No specifics are necessary; other than to advise you, two of us with the aid of the two attending ambo's took nearly thirty minutes to gather up the various body parts including parts of an infant, in order this quiet road could re-open.

My theory, (& I'm an atheist) - let providence, destiny, or God's divine intervention if you will - decide when to end a human beings life, not another flawed mortal. FYI I loathe the Swiss on many levels. Thank you, Rodney.

Hi there INDIVIDUAL...

In case you didn't know, I generally share many of your views and opinions that you regularly contribute here. And this is just another example.

The benefits are incalculable for young people being mandatorily required to undertake a period of National Service; either in basic Military Training or for the consciences objectors, 'Civil (National) Service.' These benefits are essentially ten-fold, with everyone winning - the young, twenty years old individual, and the community.

As a result, we'd see far less street crime - especially those 'crimes against the person.' It's these offences that might be the genesis, for somebody starting along that dark path of serious offending, that will only bring upon the perpetrator, and others, ultimate misery, and in certain circumstances, in some Countries, a State initiated death sentence! I would cite Bali.

National Service for 'all' our young people, may serve as an ultimate guide, and an essential aid for their personal and vocational development. The community would also benefit, with less street crime, due to the introduction of more salient or pivotal values being instilled into their psyche. With the only common denominator being - the appropriate application of a regimen of 'institutional & personal discipline' being equally applied to both groups.

o sung wu there is worse than death old mate.

I have some days, after doing too much the day before usually, when I am basically immobile. Pain prevents me walking up or down steps, or even a not very steep gradient. Pain killers don't work. The only thing I can do is sit on something like an office or kitchen chair to relieve it & recover.

If or when this gets to the stage that I lose my mobility, so much I can't easily drive a car, you will hear about another fatal single car "accidents". It will be of course attributed to speed, giving more of the ridiculous impedance to cutting speed limits even further.

I would much rather take a pill, than waste a car, but I'm not allowed, & would have to implicate a family member to get help. A gun would be too messy for those left to clean up.

I have no interest in a vegetable existence asleep in a group in front of a nursing home TV, so palliative care is out for me thanks. If I'm not allowed a pill at my time of choosing, it will be the car a little earlier.

Hi there HASBEEN...

What are you telling me old friend? I know what I've read, I just don't understand why you said it? You seemed to have adopted a finality in life - sure I know where you're coming from, but YOU?

Reflecting back on all your many accomplishments, your skills, the adventures you've partaken during your life, is nothing short of amazing!

Navy Pilot, Race car driver, and competed on one of the most hazardous tracks in the Country, 'Catalina' in Katoomba? You've built racing engines, rally driving. And that's not to mention your nautical pursuits - Oz's own James MITCHENER, sailing around the south pacific, through the tropics, and many of the islands in the tropics. HASBEEN you've done it all old friend. - EXCEPT tell others about your many adventures. You should write a book, and share those stories of; aviation, sailing, model aircraft building and flying, and motor racing, a veritable topic on its own.

Yup, I fully appreciate what you're saying, when your levels of pain become so unbearable, you believe you've no other option? There're always options, my friend. 'Share it with other like-minded people.' A mate of mine, in a similar situation to us both, chronic pain, inoperable due to his age and other medical problems. He joined a 'Chronic Pain Group in the USA (Facebook). Including among their number, women, men all as one, long-term chronic pain! Take heart ol' man; you have many friends on this Forum, believe me. Stay strong !!