I think in the US we are headed toward a country that will eventually abolish the death penalty and the next way to offer plea bargains for murder will be life with a possibility of parole versus that of life w/out parole. The life with the possibility of parole will become the new method of getting a plea without a trial (like taking the death penalty off the table).

Like I first typed, intellectually all the arguments about the death penalty prove it does not do what proponents claim.

As for cannabis, I agree. It's ridiculous regarding the penalties for this substance.

My own view is, as a country, our number one focus should be on crimes of violence, but I also believe residential burglaries should be taken more seriously than many jurisdictions take them (the home is an American's most sacred place).

But of course, economic crimes of a major nature should also be taken more serious - it is just as violent as a mine owner to have dangerous mines where people are killed because of business criminality as it is for other crimes against persons.