Presumed Guilty

Republicans don't like our judicial system. They have been banging on about "tort" reform for a couple of years now, which largely means "corporations shouldn't have to pay when they screw up." They are also, in a reversal, very upset that criminals don't get punished enough. So if you are a white guy in a suit who poisons hundreds, Conservatives want to protect your rights. If you are a black guy who deals dope, they want to lock you up and throw away the key.

Burt Prelutsky feels like the guilty don't even think criminals deserve much of a trial.

Although I understand that our legal system is based on the presumption of innocence and the notion that every person, however vile his history, is entitled to the best defense his money can buy, I can’t help believing that he wouldn’t be in hot water if he hadn’t committed the crime.

Why bother with trials at all, if you are so sure that everybody on trial is guilty?

What is the greater crime, punishing an innocent man or letting a guilty man go free?