In a weird kind of way I almost agree with Instapundit, in that my objection to the death penalty has a lot to do with a reluctance to give the State the ultimate power to kill its own citizens. So, while I wouldn't quite put this in the libertarian-speak version "The problem with the death penalty is that it's just another big government program that doesn't work," I suppose my objections are kind of similar after they've been run through the appropriate decoder ring.

However, I don't see how that requires me to agree with this statement:

The notion that it's per se immoral for the state to kill peple is absurd -- or at least, proves too much, as killing people is the core function of nation-states, and always has been. Government power is based ultimately on violence; all else is superstructure.

[spock] Fascinating... [/spock]