Of course not, weve always had to invoke our fifth amendment by at least saying " I plead the fifth". All we have to do now is something more specific, im pretty sure the while nation would be in an uproar if they fid take away the fifth
This is incorrect. You are not required to say: "I take the fifth."
The key issue to this case is that Salinas was -not- under arrest when he was brought in for questioning. The prosecution argued that since he stopped answering their questions, it was a strong sign of guilt.
Which is specifically what the Fifth Amendment is in place for.
Had Salinas been placed under arrest - a previous Supreme Court Ruling (Miranda vs Arizona) already established that the rights of the accused must be read to anyone placed under arrest to ensure that they understand their rights (this was specifically a case involving the Fifth Amendment - where Miranda claimed ignorance of the Fifth Amendment and was never informed of it by officers - thus being torn up by cross-examination without legal representation and having it used as legal evidence against him).
Thus, if he'd done this while under Arrest - it would not be 'admissible' in court as 'evidence.'
This voids key tenants of the Fifth Amendment and opens up avenues of abuse where someone not directly under interrogation can be incriminated based on their refusal to answer questions. This means every person who refuses to answer questions on the public record of any recorded event can have that submitted as 'evidence' that they are attempting to conceal their guilt.
Looking a little further - this is, apparently, not a new trend:
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In 2010, Berghius v. Thompkins, the Supreme Court ruled that individuals under interrogation must invoke their right to silence. The incident in question was after the police interrogated a suspect for hours (with him saying nothing) and using the response "Yes" to the question: "Do you pray to god to forgive you for killing those children?" ....
I'm sorry - but this goes back to the roots of the 5th amendment in both cases.
The very root of the 5th amendment is grounded in the idea that police cannot torture suspects and that failure to 'confess' or testify during trial cannot be used as evidence of guilt. The founders came from a time when the Puritans were under assault in Europe and, even in the Americas - the court practices followed and allowed such insanity as the Salem Witch Trials that were blatantly used by citizens to extort property from each other.
That was the importance of Giles Corey - he is -the- quintessential individual representing why the Fifth Amendment exists:
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"It is unusual for persons to refuse to plead, and extremely rare to find reports of persons who have been able to endure this painful form of death in silence. Since Corey refused to plead, he died in full possession of his estate, which would otherwise have been forfeited to the government.[8] It passed on to his two sons-in-law, in accordance to his will.[9]
The pressing of Giles Corey is unique in New England. It is similar to the case, in England, of Margaret Clitherow, who was arrested on March 10, 1586 for the crime of harboring priests, hearing Mass, and secretly being of the Catholic faith.[10]"
This echoes back to the darkest corners of our origins.