The book “Tyranny of Good Intentions” reviews how the American justice system and the government have shifted over time. The book highlights accidental/and/or unforeseeable consequences of otherwise well intentioned policies and laws. In their book, Paul Roberts and Lawrence Stratten argue that a legal system designed to protect individual rights and ensure justice has become hostile and prone to abuse. The book starts out by highlighting the many cases in which citizens have been targeted, had their property seized, and been convicted as a result of prosecutorial greed, the erosion of civil liberties, and the expansion of government power. The authors advocate for a more balanced and rights-focused approach to law enforcement and justice.
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Lowe had transferred $900,000 to a K-12 school on the brink of financial failure; the FBI then seized his $3 million account. There was nothing Dr. Lowe had done to warrant the seizure of his savings, the FBI and U.S. Attorney had no cause to seize his money. To put it simply, they took Dr. Lowes money to wear him out and force him to agree to a settlement that would allow them to keep some of Dr. Lowes assets. Police often violate unreasonable search and seizure procedures as seen in the example above, failing to read the Miranda rights, and due process. This could simply be just an accident, but if it continues in greater numbers, America, and the police system will slowly fall into tyranny. This book provides a historical background that partially deals with the rights of the accused. A specific Roman, Tacitus, found accountability in Germanic law. The Germans would allow the defendant in modern day terms to clear himself by “producing twelve of his equals who were to swear with him that he was innocent”. This is similar to a modern day Jury, both require part of a community to determine whether a crime had occurred, not just a single judge. Relating to the rights of the accused is coerced …show more content…
Some of these charges included aiding and abetting the filing of a false S.E.C schedule by another party, aiding bookkeeping and record violation by another broker, failing to disclose an attempt to recoup expenses from a portfolio manager. Milken only ended up serving two years, but the point of this case is if government coercion can “roll” a billionaire Democrat Jewish financier who happened to be one of the country's most productive economic resources, what can’t it do to a poor black inner city youth or a middle class citizen? Another theme the book focuses on is civil liberties and national security. Roberts and Stratton dive into the tension between civil liberties and national security during the post 9/11 time period. They argue that the Patriot Act and other anti-terrorism measures have given the government unheard-of surveillance powers which undermine citizens constitutional rights like privacy and due process. The increase in warrantless wiretapping, indefinite detention, and secret courts has caused concern about government
Lowe had transferred $900,000 to a K-12 school on the brink of financial failure; the FBI then seized his $3 million account. There was nothing Dr. Lowe had done to warrant the seizure of his savings, the FBI and U.S. Attorney had no cause to seize his money. To put it simply, they took Dr. Lowes money to wear him out and force him to agree to a settlement that would allow them to keep some of Dr. Lowes assets. Police often violate unreasonable search and seizure procedures as seen in the example above, failing to read the Miranda rights, and due process. This could simply be just an accident, but if it continues in greater numbers, America, and the police system will slowly fall into tyranny. This book provides a historical background that partially deals with the rights of the accused. A specific Roman, Tacitus, found accountability in Germanic law. The Germans would allow the defendant in modern day terms to clear himself by “producing twelve of his equals who were to swear with him that he was innocent”. This is similar to a modern day Jury, both require part of a community to determine whether a crime had occurred, not just a single judge. Relating to the rights of the accused is coerced …show more content…
Some of these charges included aiding and abetting the filing of a false S.E.C schedule by another party, aiding bookkeeping and record violation by another broker, failing to disclose an attempt to recoup expenses from a portfolio manager. Milken only ended up serving two years, but the point of this case is if government coercion can “roll” a billionaire Democrat Jewish financier who happened to be one of the country's most productive economic resources, what can’t it do to a poor black inner city youth or a middle class citizen? Another theme the book focuses on is civil liberties and national security. Roberts and Stratton dive into the tension between civil liberties and national security during the post 9/11 time period. They argue that the Patriot Act and other anti-terrorism measures have given the government unheard-of surveillance powers which undermine citizens constitutional rights like privacy and due process. The increase in warrantless wiretapping, indefinite detention, and secret courts has caused concern about government