General Discussion

BlueCheese

(2,522 posts) Tue Mar 26, 2013, 12:33 PM Mar 2013

Thank goodness for the Bill of Rights.

The United States has its share of problems, but reading about the Italian justice system makes me want to kiss my copy of the Bill of Rights.

Fresh off jailing six scientists for failing to predict earthquakes, the Italian version of the Supreme Court has now overturned the acquittal of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito in the notorious murder case of Meredith Kerchner and ordered that they be retried.

All I can say is thank goodness for the Bill of Rights. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go smooch the Fifth Amendment.

15 replies

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Highlight:

Thank goodness for the Bill of Rights. (Original Post) BlueCheese Mar 2013 OP

It sure seems like a strange system sharp_stick Mar 2013 #1

Indeed Rajesh Mar 2013 #2

Excellent post. Why is it that the *USA*, --not Italy-- jails a larger % of its populace Romulox Mar 2013 #3

It must be the Bill of Rights. BlueCheese Mar 2013 #6

The point is that the Bill of Rights hasn't protected us from a far more punitive state Romulox Mar 2013 #7

Fair enough. I didn't mean to get into an argument about the US vs Italy. BlueCheese Mar 2013 #9

+1 Canuckistanian Mar 2013 #4

Without defending any of that or arguing the details... BlueCheese Mar 2013 #5

I'm sure they'd be much better off without those nettlesome prohibitions against Nuclear Unicorn Mar 2013 #8

Welcome to DU. surrealAmerican Mar 2013 #14

There are many people here and elsewhere who think those rights are not at all absolute 1-Old-Man Mar 2013 #10

Did somebody mention the Bill of Rights? woo me with science Mar 2013 #11

Yes, I know. BlueCheese Mar 2013 #12

There's a hell of a lot more on that list. woo me with science Mar 2013 #13

"There are none so blind.. 99Forever Mar 2013 #15

sharp_stick

(14,400 posts)

1. It sure seems like a strange system

Reply to BlueCheese (Original post)

Tue Mar 26, 2013, 12:37 PM

Mar 2013

I'm not very familiar with it but man, it looks like the Government could hound you through the end of time on the same charge if they want too.

Rajesh

(9 posts)

2. Indeed

Reply to BlueCheese (Original post)

Tue Mar 26, 2013, 12:52 PM

Mar 2013

Now if only those crazy Italians would jail more people for possessing pot, execute the mentally retarded, allow people to own 20 assault weapons with 200 round magazines and sell them to anyone on the street without any restriction, essentially ban abortion for all intents and purposes, allow unrestricted corporate spending on political campaigns, and allow media conglomerates to tell outright lies and still be able to call themselves "news" channels.

Thank goodness indeed.

Romulox

(25,960 posts)

3. Excellent post. Why is it that the *USA*, --not Italy-- jails a larger % of its populace

Reply to Rajesh (Reply #2)

Tue Mar 26, 2013, 12:54 PM

Mar 2013

than any country in the history of humanity?

BlueCheese

(2,522 posts)

6. It must be the Bill of Rights.

Reply to Romulox (Reply #3)

Tue Mar 26, 2013, 01:04 PM

Mar 2013

Either that or this subthread has nothing to do with my original post.

Romulox

(25,960 posts)

7. The point is that the Bill of Rights hasn't protected us from a far more punitive state

Reply to BlueCheese (Reply #6)

Tue Mar 26, 2013, 01:05 PM

Mar 2013

than Italy has been since the days of Fascism (that's US).

BlueCheese

(2,522 posts)

9. Fair enough. I didn't mean to get into an argument about the US vs Italy.

Reply to Romulox (Reply #7)

Tue Mar 26, 2013, 02:20 PM

Mar 2013

Just saw an article and thought how glad I am that we don't have to worry about double jeopardy here.

Cheers, and thanks for the discussion.

Canuckistanian

(42,290 posts)

4. +1

Reply to Rajesh (Reply #2)

Tue Mar 26, 2013, 12:55 PM

Mar 2013

First class snark! Welcome to DU!

BlueCheese

(2,522 posts)

5. Without defending any of that or arguing the details...

Reply to Rajesh (Reply #2)

Tue Mar 26, 2013, 12:59 PM

Mar 2013

... I'm still damned grateful we have protections against double jeopardy.

I'm not really sure what the point of your comment is, actually. All I posted was that I'm glad we have certain constitutional rights in the U.S. I never claimed that we were superior to Italy in any other way.