What benefit is a stronger public defender if your government can steal your property without any requirement of proof of guilt? That automatically destroys the property rights system, the knock-on effects will be truly massive. And then it leaves you without any means for defense other than to put your fate in the hands of the government. Orwell would certainly approve.<p>I&#x27;m baffled that some people here are arguing that this could turn out to be a good thing, and are applauding giving the government this kind of terrifying power. I can&#x27;t believe it&#x27;s not immediately grasped how it&#x27;ll then be used to take 27 other steps, no different than how programs like the Patriot Act have been, and every other vast over-reach of power has been throughout recorded history.<p>This is the perfect setup to a totalitarian state. We were already too far down that road, if they kill the sixth amendment then kiss the remaining liberty goodbye, it&#x27;ll all be rapidly eroded via the government using its power to (comically easily) control public defenders. We&#x27;ve already gotten to see how these systems work, with a century of failed fascist and communist regimes.