Steven Pinker - One of the many ways that the US is a backward country compared to its democratic peers: the death penalty. But even here the death penalty is on death row
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Welcome to The Daily Quote—a podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and today is October 10th.
Now, today is World Day Against the Death Penalty. It’s a global day of awareness to question and challenge the use of capital punishment. Heavy stuff, right? But it’s one of those conversations that forces us to think about justice, fairness, and what it really means to hold a life in our hands.
Today’s quote comes from cognitive psychologist and author Steven Pinker, who gave us a pretty sharp critique on the subject. He said:
"One of the many ways that the US is a backward country compared to its democratic peers: the death penalty. But even here the death penalty is on death row."
It’s a clever way of putting it, right? The "death penalty on death row"—it sounds ironic, but Pinker’s point hits hard. While the U.S. is one of the few democratic nations that still enforces the death penalty, there’s been a clear shift in recent years. More and more states have moved to abolish it or put moratoriums in place. Even public opinion is changing, with many people beginning to question if it’s still a just or effective form of punishment.
The thing is, for a long time, the death penalty was seen as a necessary tool to maintain order—an ultimate punishment for the ultimate crime. But, as Pinker points out, the U.S. is increasingly standing alone in holding onto this belief. Our democratic peers—countries we like to compare ourselves to—have moved past it. They’ve decided that justice doesn’t have to be about retribution, and maybe it shouldn't be.
Now, here’s where the irony really sinks in. As Pinker says, the death penalty itself seems to be on death row. Even in a country that’s been reluctant to let it go, the clock is ticking. More than 20 states have abolished it, and in others, it’s barely used. It’s almost like the system itself is starting to question whether it can justify its own existence.
So, on World Day Against the Death Penalty, it’s worth reflecting on where we stand. Is it time to let go of something that, in many ways, is out of step with our values as a modern democracy? Can we imagine a justice system that doesn't rely on ending lives, but instead focuses on rehabilitation, fairness, and preventing mistakes that can never be undone?
As you go about your day today, maybe give this some thought. In a world where even the death penalty is on its way out, maybe the real question is: What comes next?
That’s all for today’s episode of The Daily Quote. Thanks for spending some time with me this morning. If today’s quote got you thinking, be sure to tune in tomorrow for another one.