WHEN CIVIL RIGHTS GO HORRIBLY WRONG

The idea that far too many Canadian criminals have been coddled for
too long under successive Liberal governments is all but universally
held in Conservative party ranks.

But, as is the case in so many things--including punishment--it's
hard to trump our neighbours down south for sheer shock value.

New Yorkers have been cranky over revelations concerning Brooklyn's
East 21st Street Crew and its "associates," a notorious drug-dealing ring.

As it turns out, one of the gang's most successful recent endeavours
of late involves suing the City of New York.

That's right.

The shameless outfit has pocketed more than $500,000 in taxpayers
money by repeatedly bringing legal action against city hall for
alleged civil rights violations.

Of course, if the authorities played it rough beyond the law, it
would be one thing. But what has happened has nothing to do with
police brutality and everything to do with brazen scamming.

Aware that city lawyers have been charged with quickly settling civil
rights cases rather than getting bogged down in expensive court
fights, the Crew has sued the Apple 20 times.

Amazingly, it received cash settlements in every case. One lucky
winner--who has been charged with 37 drug sales and caught on video
smiling as he counted out crack cocaine rocks--has netted $117,500 to
date on bogus filings.

Imagine what the federal Tories could do with that kind of material!