I think we should also look at most murders with a degree of pity. Though there are some that are just unspeakably terrible individuals, I’d wager that a high proportion of them are mentally ill, as are many prisoners for all crimes. This doesn’t excuse their crimes or mean we have to forgive them, but executing the mentally ill? That’s the best solution?

You can’t use mental health as an excuse, and then say it isn’t an excuse.

Someone who is such a danger to society, that they kill people, is beyond help. Justice is about balance, and once someone is dead, that is permanent. How can you justify giving that person another shot at life, when they’ve permanently taken that away from someone else? And imprisoning someone who is mentally ill is crueler than putting them out of their misery.

I agree with your sentiment about not giving the state the power to condemn people to die, but there are ways around that. For example, you could have a sentencing jury, made up of random members of the public that decide the punishment for such crimes.

How many innocent people could we help in this country with the money we’re spending keeping murderers and pedophiles alive?

That is crazy, and just demonstrates how far out of hand public spending has got.

And do you realise how much Brit companies own overseas? The market is truly global now. It doesn’t bother me – if people are gainfully employed and it all increases our GDP it’s better than having no inward investment and a stagnating economy, surely?

I agree, to an extent, though I believe all critical utilities should be owned by the state.

There are plenty of airworthy Spitfires in the UK, and the early marques are reasonably well represented now. This is a rare aircraft, being in it’s original paint, and should not be significantly reworked for the sake of making it airworthy.

It would be nice if it was moved around the country a bit though, so that people from all areas could get a close up look at this survivor.

I could imagine it being replaced with a replica, but I couldn’t see it being sold.

There would be an outcry if the press got hold of it.

The whole ‘freedom of movement’ policy within the EU is being abused. The evidence is all around us, look at the immigration stats. Then look at how overburdened the entire infrastructure of our nation is.

Unless all nations within the EU have a common standard of living, with common benefits and a common health system, it is all deeply weighed against us.

I was told on Monday night that I’m to become an uncle in September, so you certainly have my deepest sympathies.

Life can be so cruel sometimes. 🙁