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Execution and China

Posted Wednesday, July 11, 2007 by Charlie Trimm

I read a story this morning about the execution of a Chinese government official who took bribes and did not check the quality of many medicines, some of which went on to kill several people. Does anyone have any thought about how to respond to a punishment such as this? I don't want a debate on capital punishment, but assuming for the sake of argument that capital punishment is for today (whether you actually believe that or not), is this a valid use of capital punishment? Do you have to kill someone directly, with your own hands? In military trials, ordering someone else to kill someone can be reason for death. But turning a blind eye with the result that someone dies? If you know that someone is going to die as a result of turning the blind eye, and you are supposed to do something to stop it, that is one thing. But turning a blind eye and not knowing what effect that might have? Any thoughts?