The Death Penalty Debate
While the death penalty has been utilized for centuries, we continue to debate the morality and efficacy of this punishment. Many people argue that the death penalty acts as a deterrent to potential murderers, terrorists, and other violent criminals. However, others find the death penalty completely incompatible with the ethical standards of modern civilization. Although some states have since outlawed the practice, the US remains one of few democracies to maintain the capital punishment.
The term "capital punishment" originates from the Latin word "caput," which means head. Capital punishment, therefore, was a punishment reserved for serious crimes that warranted decapitation. Such serious crimes, referred to as capital offenses, are generally limited to treason and murder in the U.S. However, in different legal systems of foreign countries, the death penalty may be given for a lesser crime, like robbery. The most common modern methods of execution are electrocution and lethal injection. These methods are seen as more humane than previous methods, which included use of a firing squad, burning at the stake, crucifixion, decapitation, hanging and gassing.
Even with these more "humane" treatments, many people have trouble justifying the taking of human life – no matter how heinous the crime. Opponents of the death penalty argue that it is immoral. They ask, "How can the government condemn killing by killing?" To these critics, the death penalty is the ultimate betrayal of human rights and it has no place in our society. Furthermore, they argue, criminal proceedings are fraught with human error, causing innocent people to be executed. Finally, opponents of the death penalty argue that capital punishment is not an effective criminal deterrent.
OpineTree.com explains that supporters of the death penalty assert that capital punishment deters violent crime. In addition to the question of deterrence, supporters of capital punishment argue that such retribution is morally justified. In many cases, especially involving murder and terrorism, execution is the best remedy, because it will guarantee that a monstrous person will be incapable of harming society. Finally, from an economic standpoint, executing a criminal will be less expensive than the seemingly limitless access to appeals in the U.S. courts.
The death penalty debate calls into the question the role and boundaries of the justice process. Should the government have the right to kill? Is the death penalty morally justifiable?
About Us
OpineTree is an online debate magazine that encourages debate on today's most controversial political topics, including abortion, affirmative action, cloning, the death penalty, euthanasia, gay marriage, gun control, health care, social security, stem cells, as well as other debate topics.
Legal Mistakes - Top 10 Women (and Men) Should Avoid
Legal Mistakes - Top 10 Women (and Men) Should Avoid
by: Stuart Simpson
In today's world and high divorce rate, men and women should be aware of some legal issues to protect not only themselves, but also their children and any assets you may have. I will explain some of the biggest legal mistakes people overlook. It's much easier to prevent problems than to fight to fix them later.
Prenuptial Agreement. I know the words scare everyone. But what is it? Simply put, a prenuptial agreement is when a couple (before they marry) decides how to divide property if they divorce or one of them dies. Usually there is information in there about having a will that carries out the intent of the prenuptial agreement and waiving rights given by law, to stay in accordance with the prenuptial. Most agreements are upheld if both parties provide full disclosure of their assets and liabilities. Have both parties been represented or had the opportunity to be represented by independent legal counsel? Did both parties enter in voluntarily and of free will? Poor old Marla Maples. She didn't get much from her divorce, right?
Keep your property separate. I don't mean just your house or other property. I mean stocks, checking accounts and the like. Most people get burned when they commingle finances together. If you have a separate account, keep it separate. If you need to move money, move an amount equal to your paycheck so if things go south, it will be easier to prove you were just putting your paycheck into the joint account instead of any of your original asset money. Otherwise you have to prove what portion of the money was yours prior to it being commingled together. It's almost impossible to do.
If your spouse has a business, you should know what it is and what they are doing in the business. If an unfortunate event occurred, could you take over their business without befalling tough financial times yourself? Would you have to take what little life insurance you had from your spouse and pay off bills from the business? How tragic and vulnerable you can be when you are grieving for a loved one. Plan ahead. Know what's going on.
Purchase life insurance. I know it's like throwing money down the drain. But not really. If something happens to your spouse, then it wasn't wasted. I'd rather waste the money and have piece of mind. What about disability insurance? Could you survive if your spouse became disabled and was unable to manage their business or job?
Know what you own. Review bank statements and keep a list of your bank account numbers. Don't sign blank forms and review your tax forms before signing them. Nobody plans to divorce.
If you start a business, think about incorporating or using a Limited Liability Corporation, LLC. Opening a business is easy. Keeping it open is hard. Pay all your taxes as some can come back to you personally. Follow all the labor laws. Provide insurance not only for your business, but workers compensation, too. Liability insurance isn't required legally, but we don't live in fantasy world where nobody sues.
Put the pen down. Don't sign liabilities you don't want to be liable for. Have your lawyer review documents if you don't understand them. Don't sign a quick claim deed. There would be no reason unless your spouse is up to no good.
Don't forget the IRS. If you don't pay taxes on your business, these taxes can come back to haunt you personally. And if you sign a joint tax return, you can be liable for any tax issues your spouse inadvertently creates later on. Your spouse may be long gone or unable to pay, but the IRS sees that you signed your name on the tax return, too.
Plan and prepare for your death or incapacity. Death is inevitable. Incapacity, maybe not. Do you have a will or a trust set up? If you want, list specific things in your will that you want to go to certain individuals. Durable power would be good to have incase you are unable to make decisions.
Organize your paperwork. I know we don't have time to spend wasting on sorting out our business or property. Keep it all in one file. Ever have to go through a deceased loved one's records to try to figure out what they had and what their final wishes were? Keep your records for your business so your employees could keep the place running if you were gone for a few months. You need to maintain your customer base so if you sell the business, its still worth something or doesn't burden your family with personal debt.
I hope these ten items were helpful, if not somewhat scary, to get you on the right patch to secure your personal future no matter what legal problems you may face.
Auto Accident Lawyers
Auto Accident Lawyers
by: Maricon Williams
Automobiles can cause grave accidents leading to serious injuries. A large percentage of auto accidents are caused by negligence and recklessness of drivers. Some are due to intoxication or drug influenced drivers. A number are caused by poorly designed roads and improper traffic signals. It can also be caused by a defective vehicle or tire.
In times of auto accidents, it is important to know how to react in order to protect your rights and to make sure that you do not commit errors that can finish up costing you a sum. There are certain measures that you should take to keep in control with the situation. When involved in an auto accident, do not leave the premises because it is against the law and it will be difficult to pinpoint who is to be held liable for the accident. Get medical attendance right away. If there is already a police, make an official report to help protect your legal rights in the future. In addition, you can also write down important details such as the names, phone numbers, license plate numbers and addresses of the persons involved or who has witnessed the accident. If possible, you can take pictures of the auto accident scene. Never discuss the accident with anybody other than your auto accident lawyers.
In today's fast paced world auto accidents occur too frequently. The consequence varies. Majority results are minor property claims. Some car accidents result in substantial property damage, serious personal injury or death. The instantaneous aftermath of a serious auto accident are simply overwhelmed by the barrage of telephone calls, insurance paperwork, accident reports, treatment costs, medical bills, paperwork and other correspondence that are received immediately after an auto accident. It is almost unworkable for someone who has been severely injured and in the process of recovering to delve into this mass of paperwork, procedures and deadlines. Most of the time, while victims are under treatment for their injuries, the insurance companies are trying to mitigate their damages through personal injury payout or auto accident settlement. As a result of these instantaneous aftermaths, car accident victims do not receive reasonable compensation to which they are entitled.
Personal injuries can range from minor to critical state. As a result, this involves hospitalization, therapy, ongoing medical visits and loss of income. These things can be recovered through the assistance of skilled auto accident lawyers. Insurance companies usually defend accident cases. Their goal is to make and accumulate as much money as possible. On the other hand, an experienced auto accident lawyer uses his knowledge and expertise for the client's advantage. Auto accident lawyers are the most credible persons to advice you of your legal rights and options and defend you in your legal battles. You should get the services of an auto accident lawyer early on in order to be enlightened and be assured of your case.
The term "capital punishment" originates from the Latin word "caput," which means head. Capital punishment, therefore, was a punishment reserved for serious crimes that warranted decapitation. Such serious crimes, referred to as capital offenses, are generally limited to treason and murder in the U.S. However, in different legal systems of foreign countries, the death penalty may be given for a lesser crime, like robbery. The most common modern methods of execution are electrocution and lethal injection. These methods are seen as more humane than previous methods, which included use of a firing squad, burning at the stake, crucifixion, decapitation, hanging and gassing.
Even with these more "humane" treatments, many people have trouble justifying the taking of human life – no matter how heinous the crime. Opponents of the death penalty argue that it is immoral. They ask, "How can the government condemn killing by killing?" To these critics, the death penalty is the ultimate betrayal of human rights and it has no place in our society. Furthermore, they argue, criminal proceedings are fraught with human error, causing innocent people to be executed. Finally, opponents of the death penalty argue that capital punishment is not an effective criminal deterrent.
OpineTree.com explains that supporters of the death penalty assert that capital punishment deters violent crime. In addition to the question of deterrence, supporters of capital punishment argue that such retribution is morally justified. In many cases, especially involving murder and terrorism, execution is the best remedy, because it will guarantee that a monstrous person will be incapable of harming society. Finally, from an economic standpoint, executing a criminal will be less expensive than the seemingly limitless access to appeals in the U.S. courts.
The death penalty debate calls into the question the role and boundaries of the justice process. Should the government have the right to kill? Is the death penalty morally justifiable?
About Us
OpineTree is an online debate magazine that encourages debate on today's most controversial political topics, including abortion, affirmative action, cloning, the death penalty, euthanasia, gay marriage, gun control, health care, social security, stem cells, as well as other debate topics.
Legal Mistakes - Top 10 Women (and Men) Should Avoid
Legal Mistakes - Top 10 Women (and Men) Should Avoid
by: Stuart Simpson
In today's world and high divorce rate, men and women should be aware of some legal issues to protect not only themselves, but also their children and any assets you may have. I will explain some of the biggest legal mistakes people overlook. It's much easier to prevent problems than to fight to fix them later.
Prenuptial Agreement. I know the words scare everyone. But what is it? Simply put, a prenuptial agreement is when a couple (before they marry) decides how to divide property if they divorce or one of them dies. Usually there is information in there about having a will that carries out the intent of the prenuptial agreement and waiving rights given by law, to stay in accordance with the prenuptial. Most agreements are upheld if both parties provide full disclosure of their assets and liabilities. Have both parties been represented or had the opportunity to be represented by independent legal counsel? Did both parties enter in voluntarily and of free will? Poor old Marla Maples. She didn't get much from her divorce, right?
Keep your property separate. I don't mean just your house or other property. I mean stocks, checking accounts and the like. Most people get burned when they commingle finances together. If you have a separate account, keep it separate. If you need to move money, move an amount equal to your paycheck so if things go south, it will be easier to prove you were just putting your paycheck into the joint account instead of any of your original asset money. Otherwise you have to prove what portion of the money was yours prior to it being commingled together. It's almost impossible to do.
If your spouse has a business, you should know what it is and what they are doing in the business. If an unfortunate event occurred, could you take over their business without befalling tough financial times yourself? Would you have to take what little life insurance you had from your spouse and pay off bills from the business? How tragic and vulnerable you can be when you are grieving for a loved one. Plan ahead. Know what's going on.
Purchase life insurance. I know it's like throwing money down the drain. But not really. If something happens to your spouse, then it wasn't wasted. I'd rather waste the money and have piece of mind. What about disability insurance? Could you survive if your spouse became disabled and was unable to manage their business or job?
Know what you own. Review bank statements and keep a list of your bank account numbers. Don't sign blank forms and review your tax forms before signing them. Nobody plans to divorce.
If you start a business, think about incorporating or using a Limited Liability Corporation, LLC. Opening a business is easy. Keeping it open is hard. Pay all your taxes as some can come back to you personally. Follow all the labor laws. Provide insurance not only for your business, but workers compensation, too. Liability insurance isn't required legally, but we don't live in fantasy world where nobody sues.
Put the pen down. Don't sign liabilities you don't want to be liable for. Have your lawyer review documents if you don't understand them. Don't sign a quick claim deed. There would be no reason unless your spouse is up to no good.
Don't forget the IRS. If you don't pay taxes on your business, these taxes can come back to haunt you personally. And if you sign a joint tax return, you can be liable for any tax issues your spouse inadvertently creates later on. Your spouse may be long gone or unable to pay, but the IRS sees that you signed your name on the tax return, too.
Plan and prepare for your death or incapacity. Death is inevitable. Incapacity, maybe not. Do you have a will or a trust set up? If you want, list specific things in your will that you want to go to certain individuals. Durable power would be good to have incase you are unable to make decisions.
Organize your paperwork. I know we don't have time to spend wasting on sorting out our business or property. Keep it all in one file. Ever have to go through a deceased loved one's records to try to figure out what they had and what their final wishes were? Keep your records for your business so your employees could keep the place running if you were gone for a few months. You need to maintain your customer base so if you sell the business, its still worth something or doesn't burden your family with personal debt.
I hope these ten items were helpful, if not somewhat scary, to get you on the right patch to secure your personal future no matter what legal problems you may face.
Auto Accident Lawyers
Auto Accident Lawyers
by: Maricon Williams
Automobiles can cause grave accidents leading to serious injuries. A large percentage of auto accidents are caused by negligence and recklessness of drivers. Some are due to intoxication or drug influenced drivers. A number are caused by poorly designed roads and improper traffic signals. It can also be caused by a defective vehicle or tire.
In times of auto accidents, it is important to know how to react in order to protect your rights and to make sure that you do not commit errors that can finish up costing you a sum. There are certain measures that you should take to keep in control with the situation. When involved in an auto accident, do not leave the premises because it is against the law and it will be difficult to pinpoint who is to be held liable for the accident. Get medical attendance right away. If there is already a police, make an official report to help protect your legal rights in the future. In addition, you can also write down important details such as the names, phone numbers, license plate numbers and addresses of the persons involved or who has witnessed the accident. If possible, you can take pictures of the auto accident scene. Never discuss the accident with anybody other than your auto accident lawyers.
In today's fast paced world auto accidents occur too frequently. The consequence varies. Majority results are minor property claims. Some car accidents result in substantial property damage, serious personal injury or death. The instantaneous aftermath of a serious auto accident are simply overwhelmed by the barrage of telephone calls, insurance paperwork, accident reports, treatment costs, medical bills, paperwork and other correspondence that are received immediately after an auto accident. It is almost unworkable for someone who has been severely injured and in the process of recovering to delve into this mass of paperwork, procedures and deadlines. Most of the time, while victims are under treatment for their injuries, the insurance companies are trying to mitigate their damages through personal injury payout or auto accident settlement. As a result of these instantaneous aftermaths, car accident victims do not receive reasonable compensation to which they are entitled.
Personal injuries can range from minor to critical state. As a result, this involves hospitalization, therapy, ongoing medical visits and loss of income. These things can be recovered through the assistance of skilled auto accident lawyers. Insurance companies usually defend accident cases. Their goal is to make and accumulate as much money as possible. On the other hand, an experienced auto accident lawyer uses his knowledge and expertise for the client's advantage. Auto accident lawyers are the most credible persons to advice you of your legal rights and options and defend you in your legal battles. You should get the services of an auto accident lawyer early on in order to be enlightened and be assured of your case.