Because, as you've probably forgotten, there's the whole innocent til proven guilty concept that "used" to be enshrined as a pillar of american justice. Now, before you go to trial you can lose your house, car, whatever, even if the search was illegal, and the onus is on you to regain it. Searches have become much much more invasive with the war on drugs (let alone the war on terrah), and combined with the police dept's ability to confiscate (all) your property, one of the cornerstones of what the founders of america fought against britain to gain has gone the way of the dodo.

Criminals don't deserve a break, but they do deserve, like any other person accused of a crime, their turn in court, in front of a jury of their peers. If you don't find that important, well, I bet founding fathers are just thrilled at what you "patriotic" americans have become.

An often quoted Samuel Johnson said "patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel", and he also said "He that wishes to see his country robbed of its rights cannot be a patriot. "

Take it as you wish.