Water Cooler: Should California abandon the death penalty?
Julie Morris: “The death penalty is expensive, fallible and unjust. Since 1978 thirteen executions have cost California taxpayers $4 billion, money siphoned from public safety and schools. We pay roughly $100 million annually for each of the 720 inmates on death row and it takes an average of 25 years to get from conviction to execution, delaying justice for victims' families. California can't afford the death penalty: it's much more cost effective to sentence dangerous criminals to life in prison without possibility of parole and start using taxpayer dollars on programs that benefit law abiding Californians.”
Water Cooler: Should photo IDs be required for voting?
Ruth Erickson: “State voter I.D. cards, which are required in several states, would only disenfranchise those trying to vote illegally. The I.D. cards should be required to keep the voting process legitimate.”
