I appreciate the distinction, because most often today, principle is completely absorbed by practice. And without principles to guide actions, then one can use whatever practices suit their own ambitions and shape the “truth” accordingly.

But, having said that, there is some logic in modifying, or restraining, what is carried out in the name of principle, particularly when those actions are easily abused by those with no principles, and only ambition.

The Liberty Papers gives analysis on this from the New York Times: CINCINNATI ? A death row inmate convicted of murdering a child and two adults was spared the death penalty Thursday by Gov. Ted Strickland of Ohio, who said there were possible probl……

It should be a no-brainer in these instances where evidence was withheld. What these prosecutors seem to forget is that the “rule” in “rule of law” applies to the State to perhaps an even greater degree than to the citizenry. Gov. Strickland reminded them of that.

There is a perverse political incentive for the state to sentence as many people as possible in order for politicians to be able to say in their campaigns that they’ve been “tough on crime.” Beyond putting possibly innocent people on the path to execution, this also hurts the country as a whole. The unnecessarily bloated prison budget could either, if you’re a liberal/progressive, go to social programs and education or, if you’re a libertarian, go back into the hands of the taxpayer so that they can reinvigorate the economy.