I'd like to hear peoples thoughts on those that leave the U.S. for reasons such as dodging the draft, avoiding criminal prosecution, etceteras...

draft...haha

i think that it is wrong and that if they try to return they should be jailed and put on trial without bail.

Do you think that they should only be jailed if they try to return, or do you think the U.S. should actively pursue their extradition back to the U.S.? I mean we obviously have neither the time or resources to hunt these people down, but through our extradition agreements we can have foreign re-patriate these people if and when they are found by their local authorities... Do you think countries with extradition agreements should have anysort of special status with us?

I leave the question open for everyone to respond to.

i think we should just wait for them to come back because like you said we dont have the time with all the crime and other issues we have on our hands. wat kinds of special status would we be able to give them??

I don't know, some form of preferential treatment for trade or something? How do extradition agreements work now? I don't know... I'd be curious to hear your dad's thoughts on the subject, seeing how he works for the embassy and all.

I have no problem with it, in fact I encourage it! (What'd you expect? Haha)

I don't think it's any nation's place to put people in a position where they have to fight and perhaps die for the country who arms and trains them; it's not a proud death unless one believes in what he's doing and is willing to die for it; no officials' praises can justify the pain felt by the deceased or the family.

As for offenders facing prosecution, I don't believe anyone should be jailed for economic crimes (in fact, I encourage that too). Not that I believe this will happen, or that the prison system will grow more liberal any time soon, but the number of people we have locked away for stupid 'crimes' is ridiculously high. If you freed drug offenders, that's 30% right there -- just an example.

As for rapists, murderers, child molesters, and people of that nature; well I'd kill them if they hurt one of my family members, and I'd expect anybody else in the same situation would do the same. Without prisons, what's to keep a criminal safe from those s/he's done wrong?

actually he works for the United Nations. what made you think he works for the embassy??

Wow I agree with so much more of that than I would have ever expected too... Most Especially about economic prisoners, & drug prisoners. Further more I think if we give someone the death penalty, we should put them to death, not put them through college...

Don't get me wrong, sometimes college seems worse than death I know, but there is an important difference...

I do believe some criminals can be reformed, but there are some crimes that go beyond retribution (rape, etc.), that's when we resort to penalty of death.

For perpetrators of assault and other not-so-serious crimes, I say we make them work for their freedom, not busy work though, I'm talkin' stringing fenceline in Arizona during the summer and things of that nature; HARD WORK.