The militarization of the police

Quote from 808Lurker : drones now being allowed in US air space

They already were, the Pentegon is just looking to make it easier to use them, similar to other military craft [latimes.com].

They do a great job & deserve to have nothin less than the best

Coming to america in 201X.....

You like the similarities

This isn't as simple as saying we should get rid of SWAT teams since there is a genuine need for them. Or are there alternatives? A national SWAT force perhaps. Wasn't the FBI formed to handle the gangster threat that local PD's couldn't cope with?

Quote from paperboy05 : How do you know they are the norm if they aren't publicized?

Extrapolation and I know a few people.
Would you like to argue about what constitutes "the norm" next?

Quote from hsjpatman : Extrapolation and I know a few people. Would you like to argue about what constitutes "the norm" next?

I'd venture a guess that your definition of 'the norm' is far different then the one readily accepted in terms of your claim.

Just what kind of people are we dealing with that we need police like this? with guns like that?

This isn't Mexico, our criminals are pu**ies compared to the world at large... Even the toughest criminal in america is going to cry like a little baby if thrown in other countries prison with their criminals

Quote from paperboy05 : I'd venture a guess that your definition of 'the norm' is far different then the one readily accepted in terms of your claim.

I can't say that I have a clear cut definition for what "the norm" means, but I'd venture to say, average and or common.
How about you?

Another part of this that concerns me is the privatization of prisons. When it becomes profitable to lock somebody up then this becomes a problem.

Quote from hsjpatman : I can't say that I have a clear cut definition for what "the norm" means, but I'd venture to say, average and or common. How about you?

Yes, and if you really think that raids are "average" or "common" (not even counting unnecessary ones) I don't know what to say.

I'd disagree that these raids are the norm but I would say that they are increasing.

Quote from Grinner : I think we have had a major loss of respect on both sides. I'm thankful for the police but I am very fearful of any interaction with them. I do my utmost to avoid it by following the law as best I can because I am fearful of what could happen to me if I don't. I think there is a lot of benefit in community policing. Stuff like this moves away from that IMO. It leads to fear of the police rather than respect for them.

I believe there are many that conflate those two things.

This is all the result of the so-called 'war on drugs.' It is the catalyst for the paramilitary tactics being used by police. ENOUGH ALREADY!

Respect through fear.....

Thats how all gov'ts are runned... Do most people respect the law or because fear ( punishment ) from it?

People follow the law because they fear the law... I'm not saying all laws are bad, but there are plenty of laws that clearly violates our rights yet people follow them or say "it's the law, so I have to follow it" cause they FEAR its punishment.. and after a certain point of following laws you become what we would call a "sheep to your gov't"

Do religious people respect the rules of the "bible/holy" text or do they fear its punishment after death by some godly figure?


Fear and respect goes hand in hand... This is why gov't fears and are eager to stop "lawbreakers/opposers" cause they don't fear the authority. That is why we see police crackdown on Occupy movements, why foreign gov't crush dissent.. Cause the gov't FEARS those that DON'T fear them..

So we get labels like criminals, terrorists, fornicators, etc etc... cause they don't fear the man ( so to say )