COMMENT One popular tune for politicians to sing these days is for the antion to be rid of the death penalty. You know, death is such an ugly and eerie word in the first place, so why associate with it?

It’s popular for politicians to proclaim aloud to the world that it’s wrong to take the life of another person, no matter what. That’s putting on a very humane face.

And yes, capital punishment is incompatible with a modern, civilised justice system - which is why politicians from both sides of the divide have joined the chorus.