In this progressive era, isn't it time for the U.S. to abolish the death penalty?  Doesn't everyone know by now the death penalty doesn't work as a deterrent and costs taxpayers more to prosecute than life imprisonment without the possibility of parole?  It's uncivilized, ineffective, and inhumane.

This week on Meet the Bloggers, we're discussing the death penalty with actor Mike Farrell -- television's B.J. Hunnicutt on M*A*S*H* -- who has worked for social justice and human rights for more than 40 years.  A lifelong opponent of the death penalty, Farrell is president of Death Penalty Focus.  He joins show host Cenk Uygur and Liliana Segura, the Rights and Liberties blogger for Alternet.

Together, they will dismantle the many myths about the death penalty:

• Myth: Death by lethal injection is painless and humane.
• Myth: The death penalty provides "closure" to families of victims.
• Myth: The death penalty is enforced only after all efforts for appeal have been exhausted.
  
• Myth: The death penalty is faithful to the Constitution.
  

We'll also talk to blogger Bryna Subherwal about Amnesty International's Global Write-a-Thon, now in progress. Plus, we'll learn about the state of the death penalty in Mexico from special correspondent Axel Woolfolk, as well as the hypocrisy of using the Bible to justify the death penalty from Brave New Films blogger Jonathan Kim.

This episode will be online with a live blog on Friday, December 12, at 10am PT/1pm ET, and will be available anytime after on MeetTheBloggers.org.  In the meantime, here's what can you do to help end the death penalty?

Join: Death Penalty Focus, Amnesty International, the American Civil Liberties Union, Human Rights Watch, or another organization dedicated to ending the death penalty worldwide.

Volunteer: These organizations and others in your area need help to get their message out. Make phone calls, attend vigils, edit a video -- check their websites for volunteer needs and opportunities.

Organize and Agitate: The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty will hold their next national conference in January, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Go Local: Pass a city council resolution in your town or city calling for a moratorium on the death penalty. Find out how and why local action matters from Equal Justice.

Take Action: Write a letter (or five!) on behalf of Amnesty International's Global Write-a-Thon.