National Socialist State of Ohio

So much for due process and presumption of innocence:

An Ohio legislative panel yesterday rubber-stamped an unprecedented process that would allow sex offenders to be publicly identified and tracked even if they've never been charged with a crime.

A recently enacted law allows county prosecutors, the state attorney general, or, as a last resort, alleged victims to ask judges to civilly declare someone to be a sex offender even when there has been no criminal verdict or successful lawsuit.

Welcome to Ohio. Please form a single line and have your papers ready for inspection. Anyone who steps out of line will be shot.

Here's the cherry topping on this tasty fascist sundae:

The concept was offered by Roman Catholic bishops as an alternative to opening a one-time window for the filing of civil lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse that occurred as long as 35 years ago.

Isn't that a bit like the fox dictating terms of henhouse access to the farmer--after he's eaten half the chickens?

Hey, I know! How about we just declare the pope Supreme Ruler of Ohio, send all the elected representatives home, and let "God" decide guilt and innocence. We could bind accused sex offenders and throw them into the Ohio River. Those that get loose are innocent by divine decree; those who drown were obviously guilty.