Sunday, October 05, 2014

You're Already a Felon. Who Needs the Laws?

We were reminded of this essay which was written in 2009--five years ago

...Boston civil-liberties lawyer Harvey Silverglate calls his new book "Three Felonies a Day," referring to the number of crimes he estimates the average American now unwittingly commits because of vague laws....

That was five years ago.  Silverglate could probably make that 4.5 felonies/day now.

Here's the core of the problem:

...Mr. Silverglate describes several cases in which prosecutors didn't understand or didn't want to understand technology. This problem is compounded by a trend that has accelerated since the 1980s for prosecutors to abandon the principle that there can't be a crime without criminal intent....

Toss out the yapping about 'technology.'  This "crime without intent" thing is really the problem, and that stems from the rise of the Regulatory State, a convenient way to establish the Totalitarian State.  It's also an excellent dodge for legislators who can (and often DO) say that 'this was not my/our intent.' 

I suppose that's true; the intent of the typical legislator is to evade responsibility for anything so that he can be re-elected. 

It should be the intent of US citizens to remove legislators from office.  As one sharp observer put it, 'tis best to do so often, just as 'tis best to change baby-diapers often, and for nearly the same reason.

1 comment:

John Mitchell said...

"It should be the intent of US citizens to remove legislators from office. As one sharp observer put it, 'tis best to do so often, just as 'tis best to change baby-diapers often, and for nearly the same reason."

Speaking about "yapping", why don't you run for office. You have all the answers...