How is this a double standard?

Question

I don't believe the government has a right to determine who lives and who dies. That is why I am pro choice, and that is why i am against the death penalty. How is that a double standard?

remember, Roe was upheld for a woman's health...government does not have a right to put undue burden on a woman by forcing her to carry a pregnancy to term

leo. I don;t suport killing a baby, I support government staying out of the doctor's office. I also support putting someone up for life, because i am conservative, and it costs more to put them to death. Don't put words in my mouth.

Answer 1

I don't see a double standard because the answers are reasonably explained and do not amount to a contradiction. You do not state that you are against the death penalty because you are against killing, but rather for the financial cost associated and your belief that the government does not have the right to decide who lives or dies. In my opinion this reconciles the difference. Whereas if you had stated you were against killing in any form, but still supported abortion then the double standard would have applied.

Answer 2

No, it's not a double standard.

Sounds like what you are saying is that you don't want the government legislating at all in either of these areas. I disagree with both positions - there's no need to go into details. But I am at a distinct disadvantage: I have to "draw lines" and explain when government action is warranted, and when it is not. To say "never" is a bright-line test I can understand, if not agree with. It is much more defensible in its own way, since it puts the burden on me to explain each situation and where it falls under my rules.

You are not a hypocrite. But I disagree with you. There's a big difference.

The whole "death penalty/abortion" gambit is a tired, facile argument.

Answer 3

These are separate issues. Many people support the death penalty because of fears than killers will be released into their communities and because they are not yet aware of the practical issues surrounding the death penalty. Here are a few facts about the death penalty system itself. All are sourced (see below.)

The death penalty risks executing innocent people (123 already exonerated) and DNA is available in less than 10% of all homicides. It is not a guarantee against the execution of innocent people.

The death penalty is not a deterrent. Most killers do not even think they will be caught (if they think at all). Homicide rates are higher in states with the death penalty.

Life without parole is now on the books in 48 states. It means what it says. Supermax prisons are terrible places to spend the rest of your life.

The death penalty costs much more than life in prison.

The death penalty can be very hard on families of murder victims.

The death penalty does not apply to the worst of the worst. It applies to defendants with the worst lawyers.

48% of Americans prefer life without parole and 47% prefer the death penalty.

Answer 4

Interesting point, if true, then Roe v. Wade was effectively overturned this week when the Supreme Court said a ban on partial-birth abortion was okay even though it is only used in rare cases to save the life of the mother.

Does the government have the right to dictate who's life is saved when a pregnancy may result in the death of the mother or the unborn child?

Answer 5

It's not a double-standard, but not logically sound either. The flaw lies in your rationale for being opposed to the death penalty. The government doesn't decide who gets the death penalty. Criminals are convicted by a jury of their peers. The jury votes on the sentencing, the government just facilitates the process of determining guilt or innocence, and what to do with the convicted after the trial.

Answer 6

This whole issue is being blown way out of proportion.
The doctors I know, would never do an abortion after the
first trimester, unless the mother's life depended on it.

As for the death penalty, they're now finding out that 10% of
the inmates on death row are innocent. I really don't think
that's the image our country wants or needs to have.

Answer 7

Ditto to Bryan.

Abortions and Life in Prison are both financially conservative stances ... Plus restrict Uncle Sam in the equation.

You are right. There is No double standard. Thanks for the articulation.

Answer 8

i agree with you 100%. however, the michael richards incident is nothing. look at all the fuss the media drummed up over the don imus remark. all he did was call them a name and it became headline news for weeks. but at the same time, a young white couple was carjacked by four blacks. the young woman was forced to watch as they murdered her boyfriend and cut his penis off. then for days, the woman was repeatedly raped, sodomized, and tortured. in the end, the blacks poured bleach down her throat to destroy all d.n.a. evidence, then they cut her breasts off and strangled her and set her body on fire and the media refused to report it.

Answer 9

Get honest. No matter how you come down on the abortion issue a very tiny percentage of abortions are done for the woman's health.

To not have double standards you'd have to be in favor of saving life in all instances, including both abortion and the death penalty.

Answer 10

Because conservatives only see "killing" as being the issue. They have no idea that it is not their decision whether you or I give birth or not.

I'm pro-choice and in favor of the death penalty, and they still think I'm a hypocrite, so really, there's no way to win with them except to gulp down the "I LOVE GEORGE BUSH" juice.