Going Liberal with Ear Rings and Necklaces

NEBRASKA, AMONG THE MORE CONSERVATIVE states in the union, has repealed its state death penalty, and now, surprisingly, thirty two states no longer have capital punishment. Surprisingly, because for decades America has been primarily conservative on this issue, which led to the death penalty being reinstated by the Supreme court in 1976, after an earlier respite. So now we are heading into more liberal waters, and perhaps preparing to join the ranks of more civilized countries; after all, only a handful of nations even have a death penalty, and many countries which most Americans consider less advanced than the U.S. have long ago abolished it. It seems plausible that within a few years all fifty nifty will have abolished state sponsored murder. Or perhaps putting someone to death isn't murder, if the victim of capital punishment has committed a heinous enough crime. Words. Definitions. But all too often innocent people have been put to death in the United States, and all too often executions have turned out to be cruel and unusual in their manifestation. Gay marriage, legalized marijuana, and repeal of capital punishment are sweeeping the country; could it be that the liberal side is beginning to win the great culture war? Maybe so; these days, even conservative men often wear ear rings and necklaces.