The difference between then and now.

[cornermouse]

Just watched Beaver (about 9 or 10 years old) take his go-cart out on the road. He was stopped and ticketed by a policeman after which he went home and conned his brother Wally into saying he was his guardian so that he wouldn't have to tell his dad. The judge gave him a small lecture and turned him loose.

Skip forward to today...

Beaver's younger grandson (about 9 or 10 years old) takes his go-cart out on the road. Policeman stops him, decides he isn't saying "yes sir" enough to make him happy, tasers Beaver's grandson and then handcuffs him, confiscates the go-cart to be sold to fund whatever they use confiscated vehicles to fund. Beaver's grandson goes directly to juvenile detention till he goes to trial.

Due to lack of cooperation by Beaver's younger grandson, the police serve a search warrant on said grandson's home at which time they find a report about al Qaeda and Islam on the computer. Beaver's slightly older grandson who claims it is homework, but the police decide better safe than sorry and call in Homeland Security. Homeland Security takes one look at it and hauls the older grandson off to the nearest secret headquarter where he is questioned without legal representation, non-stop till he confesses to being bin Laden in disguise. They put him through a secret trial without an attorney and send him directly and immediately to Guantanamo.

Sort of amazing isn't it?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. actually

I think it could happen in the near future, especially if Beaver married a minority, his kids married minorities, so his grandkids "fit the profile" of the week.

[wli]

2. you're far too optimistic

It's not anywhere near that nice. He'd be set up to be castrated and raped nonstop in prison until he dies of hepatitis or AIDS.

[hootinholler]

3. Trial? Secret Trial?

We don't need no steenkin trials. Slap the label on and ship him off.

-Hoot