![]() ![]() ![]() And all governments are deceitful-they're deceitful because it's easier than being honest. If ordinary citizens can't coolly and rationally evaluate a prosecutor's summation in a criminal trial, they won't have a chance at calling to task a deceitful government. If it doesn't, throw us out." The ability of citizens to scrutinize the theories insisted on by their government is their only protection against abuse of power and, ultimately, against tyranny. If our theory makes sense to you, vote for us in the next election. When a democratic government decides to raise taxes or wage war or write child safety laws, it is essentially saying to an enormous jury, "This is our theory of how the world works, and this is our proposal for dealing with it. A trial, however, is just a microcosm of the entire political system. It's the highest calling there is, the very thing that separates us from social anarchy, and it has to be done well. The reason it is important is this: Here is a group of people who have gathered to judge-and possibly execute-a fellow citizen. In some ways there is nothing less relevant than an old murder case. The reason this is important has nothing to do with Roy Smith or Bessie Goldberg or even Al DeSalvo they're all dead. ![]() “The state's case against Smith, however, did claim to speak to his actual guilt or innocence, and it has to be considered carefully. ![]()
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