Pax on both houses: Don't Look To The U.S. For Freedom

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Don't Look To The U.S. For Freedom - Le Figaro

Can strip-searching citizens for almost any reason

be an acceptable part of living in a ‘free’ country?

U.S. Supreme Court Stands Up for Laying Citizens ‘Bare’ (Le Figaro, France)

“Such a loose conception of freedom is difficult to grasp. … A government that can undress its citizens for not wearing a seatbelt has license to undress whoever it chooses. And to think that conservatives supposedly stand for a less intrusive government. It seems that, in fact, their idea is of a government that intrudes less into the pockets of the wealthiest. That is their notion of democracy.”

By Jean-Sébastien Stehli

Translated By Carolyn Yohn

April 9, 2012

France - Le Figaro - Original Article (French)

The U.S. Supreme Court: Divining the logic of its decisions is challenging for some.

NEW MEDIA ANIMATION [TAIWAN]: U.S. Supreme Court overturns ban on violent video games, Mar. 25, 00:02:36

What is so nice about the current Supreme Court, the most militant court in more than half a century, is that it opposes the expansion of federal powers when it works in the government's favor, but accepts expansion when it works in favor of citizens. For instance: the court has decided that contributions by corporations and lobbyists cannot be limited because it considers this an expression of free speech, and thus protected under the First Amendment. The result is a presidential campaign that will break all records in terms of financial debauchery, with several billionaires funding absolutely ludicrous candidates. Another example is that the court may soon decide that the state cannot compel citizens to have health coverage.

But when it comes to humiliating citizens in violation of the Constitution (the Fourth Amendment), the Supreme Court has responded to the call.

[Editor’s Note: This article refers to the case of Florence v. Board of Freeholders. See video below].

By a five to four vote, conservative judges on the Supreme Court decided that any citizen can be forced to permit a strip search, even in the case of a minor offense - and even if there is no reason to suspect a felony or crime. Henceforth, explained one of the dissenting judges, a bike with a faulty bell or broken turn signal can lead to the offender being strip searched. The Supreme Court held that there is nothing excessive or degrading about being forced to lay bare before a representative of the state. Such a loose conception of freedom is difficult to grasp. Up to now, case law dictated that police were only permitted to conduct a body search when, for example, there is cause to suspect the person of hiding weapons or drugs. Ten states, including Florida and Michigan (not exactly bastions of leftism), forbid strip searches without serious cause.

Posted by Worldmeets.US