It's articles like this one that make me think we should round up all the economists, stuff them in burlap sacks and throw them into the nearest convenient river (sorry Charles). Allow me to explain. Slate's latest journalistic atrocity claims that, after a diligent consideration of all the relevant make-believe economic factors, one must inescapably conclude that it makes more sense to execute the authors of computer virii, trojans and worms than it does to execute murderers.

Now, put aside the fact that this article's fourth-and-a-half sentence is "What do we get out of executing a murderer? Deterrence." (oh really?) Further, ignore how conveniently round all the numbers are (people deterred by an execution? 10. Value of a human life? $10 million. Economic benefit of executing a murderer? $100 million). And disregard when the author unabashedly says "...I take my stand with the president of the United States, who, in a 2000 debate against Al Gore, said quite explicitly that nothing other than deterrence can justify the death penalty," despite the fact that President's resume isn't exactly burgeoning with the names of states known for their nuanced philosophical consideration of capital punishment.

No, all you have to know about this article is that the author, Steven E. Landsburg, writes the following:

Compare that to the benefit of executing the author of a computer worm, virus, or Trojan. There seems to be no good name for such people, so I'll make one up—at least until some reader sends in a better suggestion, I'll call them "vermiscripters."

First, Steve, there are names for these sorts of people. This oversight can perhaps be forgiven -- sure, it reveals that you did absolutely no research or background reading prior to declaring a number of misguided teenagers fit for death, but this pales in comparison with your second offense: implying that "vermiscripter" constitutes a "good name."

Ladies and gentlement, if you should run into Steven Landsburg on the street, do not make eye contact. Keep him away from your children. And for god's sake, don't let him start to draw any graphs.