General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThis New Yorker article is a real eye opener.
Do you think you own your stuff? Think again.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/08/12/130812fa_fact_stillman
G_j
(40,367 posts)The protections our Constitution usually affords are out the window, Louis Rulli, a clinical law professor at the University of Pennsylvania and a leading forfeiture expert, observes. A piece of property does not share the rights of a person. Theres no right to an attorney and, in most states, no presumption of innocence. Owners who wish to contest often find that the cost of hiring a lawyer far exceeds the value of their seized goods. Washington, D.C., charges up to twenty-five hundred dollars simply for the right to challenge a police seizure in court, which can take months or even years to resolve."
Vinnie From Indy
(10,820 posts)eom
AppleBottom
(201 posts)You see these actions are legal because some worthless politicians got together to write a law that stripped Americans of their rights. So you shouldn't complain you should just change the law. With MAGIC!
Or you could raise awareness about such injustices, protest across many different avenues, form a consensus and organize. Just like you're starting to do here. Thank you very much for posting this.
MattSh
(3,714 posts)AppleBottom
(201 posts)Democracyinkind
(4,015 posts)Solly Mack
(90,763 posts)K&R
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)valerief
(53,235 posts)of civil liberty corruption.
ballardgirl
(145 posts)Forfeiture Endangers American Rights - http://www.fear.org/
I haven't checked out this organization but they do grade each state on the severity of their laws.
valerief
(53,235 posts)WillyT
(72,631 posts)progressoid
(49,988 posts)seizing assets is a big money maker.
W T F
(1,146 posts)not filing any charges, and bribery?
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)a kind of 'legal' protection racket.
Cryptoad
(8,254 posts)racketeering,,,,,,, just like they use to call pay day loans , loan sharking!
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)rackets. loan sharking, lotteries ("the numbers" , on-line gambling, prostitution in a semi-legal way (look at people like spitzer & the use of media to advertise). now the police with protection rackets.
all that's left is drugs. & imo, government & corporations have a big hand in those above the street level, too.
Stargazer09
(2,132 posts)That really upsets me. I had no idea that things were so bad.
Flatulo
(5,005 posts)If you are even suspected of trying to buy drugs or solicit a streetwalker in the seedier parts of town, bye-bye Mercedes ES500. Or whatever.
The only legal hurdle to confiscation is probable cause. That's it.
These are the FBI's own guidelines on asset forfeiture.
http://m.fbi.gov/#http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/white_collar/asset-forfeiture
elehhhhna
(32,076 posts)The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.[1]
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Cryptoad
(8,254 posts)looks like,,,,,,,this is the face of your real enemy, the RightWing,,,,,,, this should be your outrage ,,, yet the far left had rather worry about whether their email are being read by some computer somewhere!
LMAO
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)Flatulo
(5,005 posts)ballardgirl
(145 posts)they could just use bankers - they smell money a mile away!
whttevrr
(2,345 posts)EDIT: Excerpt added
RedCappedBandit
(5,514 posts)Shrike47
(6,913 posts)Douglas Carpenter
(20,226 posts)surrealAmerican
(11,360 posts)Surely, there must have been numerous legal challenges. Why were they upheld?
jwirr
(39,215 posts)true only after we pay for it! But that is the one thing they cannot take from us.
RainDog
(28,784 posts)We need to entirely overhaul our criminal justice and sentencing system - starting with bullshit like this.