Capital punishment IS a part of the Harper agenda

So, let's get this straight. Harper believes that the death sentence is appropriate in some cases. He said so.

"The reality of this particular case is that were we to intervene, it would very quickly become a question of whether we are prepared to repatriate a double-murderer to Canada. In light of this government's strong initiatives on tackling violent crime, I think that would send the wrong signal to the Canadian population."

Read that again.

So, this isn't about the sovereignty of the state of Montana. This isn't about whether Montana observes the rule of law. This is about the Harper government's desire to send a message to Canadians: capital punishment is justified. Period.

Then, to add to that view, Stockwell Day, inserted this into the argument:

"We have an approach of tackling crime, of tackling violent crime and our messages need to be consistent with that," Mr. Day told reporters.

Again, this isn't about some other jurisdiction. This is, according to Day and Harper, about our jurisdiction.

Harper and Day have just linked their "violent crime" agenda with capital punishment.

That thing you see sliding under long standing Canadian values is the thin edge of a very dangerous wedge. The Harper hidden agenda.

Now go read what Chet has to say.

Cheryl throwing in her two bits worth:

I have more than a few problems with Harper’s statement.

a) As a past president of the local chapter of Amnesty International, this is a deep violation of everything I believe in. And I’m pretty sure I’m not the only Canadian that feels that way

b) This is nothing more than a backdoor method to institute capital punishment on Canadians – if Canadians won’t let us kill our own, we’ll let others do the killing for us. Brings a whole new meaning to “outsourcing”

c) The part about sending “the wrong signal to the Canadian population” is offensive, demeaning, and paternalistic. Memo to Harper: you are an elected politician, therefore, you don’t send us the signals…we, the people, send YOU the signals and you act upon OUR wishes. And the last time I checked, I couldn’t hear any great Canadian groundswell demanding the re-institution of the death penalty.

This is wrong on so many levels.