So long fourth and fifth – SCOTUS still out of control
This year’s incumbent protection act, misnamed campaign finance reform, was a blow to first amendment freedoms by the supreme court. That wasn’t enough because now they have shat upon the fourth and fifth amendments. You have no right to remain silent, no freedom from unwarranted searches, and no right to not incriminate yourself. Ravenwood writes:
By a vote of 5-4, the Supreme Court disagreed. I think Justice Kennedy’s remark pretty much sums it up. (emphasis mine)
“Obtaining a suspect’s name in the course of a Terry stop serves important government interests,” Kennedy wrote.
AUGH! Far be it for a citizen’s Constitutionally protected civil rights to get in the way of “important government interests”.
It used to be that the Constitution protected the rights of individuals. Now it’s seen as an obstacle (albeit a minor one) to “important government interests”.
Government interests should never be placed before individual rights. That is, after all, why we have a Constitution to begin with.
June 16th, 2005 at 12:47 pm
[…] way, and that makes me a racist). Continued killing the fourth amendment. Just repeal it already. Ignored guns by refusing to hear a […]
June 21st, 2004 at 9:16 am
The WaPo article says “Police” had been in favor of this decision, because it could help “get information about terrorists.”
Just as “The Children” was the trump card of the 90s, it looks like “Terrorism” is the trump card of today. Super.
June 21st, 2004 at 10:06 am
I’m sorry, regardless of the connotation, circumstances, or usefulness…
The word “shat” should never, ever be used in writing or conversation.
I hereby declare this utterly silly word off-limits to all.
So say I.
June 21st, 2004 at 11:50 am
Barry deserves to be shitted upon.
June 21st, 2004 at 4:17 pm
You have ze Papers? You must produce ze papers at once!
June 21st, 2004 at 5:53 pm
A dead canary every day.
June 22nd, 2004 at 5:47 am
Your papers are not in order!…What is your name!
June 22nd, 2004 at 5:48 am
on another note…Is there any way/shape or form that congress can “overrule” a SCOTUS decision? I havent read up on my constitutional law lately.
June 22nd, 2004 at 6:11 am
Funny you should ask…