Bob Schmall wrote:

Is this what they call "compassionate conservatism?" That
someone stealing deserves to die? Why not just cut off his
hand as they do in less civilized countries?

Hmm. "Different cultures" might be considerably closer to the
truth than "less civilized". I lived in one such country long
enough to wonder what had happened to civilization when I
returned to the USA.

How long has it been since you last felt it safe to leave the
keys in your car (for a year at a time) or to not lock your home
when you went out?

FWIW loss of a hand resulted /only/ from a trial process in which
fairness and justice were of equal importance with law; and which
was tempered with mercy, compassion, and wisdom (required
qualities for judging such matters) - which meant that a lesser
punishment was chosen whenever possible.

I've been fascinated that those people considered incarceration
uncivilized. Interesting thought, no?

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto, Iowa USA