Naw...the reason so many more people support capital punishment now is cos there's more fear out there now than in '65. And there's more fear because of the messages people get constantly from the news and entertainment media. The media gives 'em all these hyped-up stories which drive the level of fear up. In Toronto, for example, the crime rate has been going DOWN for the last 20 years. It keeps getting lower. That's a documented statistical fact. But the public perception is that it's going UP all the time! That's because of sensational media coverage. A frightened public, like a frightened animal, gets nasty...and supports capital punishment in a sort of automatic kneejerk response, just as a symptom of their paranoia.

It's got nothing to do with statistical evidence, nothing to do with deterrence of crime, nothing to do with justice...it's a symptom of fear, period.

The more fearful people are, the more you will hear them call out for more capital punishment, more jails, more severe sentencing, and less mercy.

The media encourages a fearful public, because it increases sales of product. You can see that in the world of fashion too...as regards fear of: obesity, hairiness, bad breath, etc. It's endless. Dictators also encourage a fearful public, because that public will support a dictator when he launches extreme, violent actions against whoever it is that they're afraid of...and he makes sure to school them in who that is first!

What you got here is a chronically terrorized populace. I have to admit it's good for business if you're a private eye...

Chongo