It's scary when you think about it.

[ThomWV]

My son and I were talking the other day and came to agreement, this budding police state we're living in, its getting way out of hand.

I said it was budding, but in truth I fear its bloomed. We have police on top of police and they could snatch you up anytime they felt like it, or anytime someone made them feel like it. Right here I am under the jurisdiction of the town's two cops, neither of whom I'd trust with a loaded fountain pen, let alone a firearm, but there they are at the ground level so to speak. Above them and also available to swoop down on anyone here anytime they wanted would be the County Sheriff's boys. These fellows are heavily armed, though not so bad as some cities' police forces. Follow them up with the State Police and even here in this rural area there is a small army of badges available to do such work as is directed their way. Its probably not much different where you live.

At the federal level there doesn't seem to be any great distinction between our military, intelligence, and diplomatic forces along with the Government's law enforcement agency (FBI). Through many channels, financial as well as manpower related they have their hooks into every level of local 'law enforcement' mentioned above from subsidized heavy equipment to discount firearms programs. You may recall that the Director, National Intelligence informed the Congress in sworn testimony that the CIA assassinates US citizens when its deemed in the national interest to do so. If they can do it at the Federal level the states will follow.

It is my contention that but for what have turned out to be relatively benevolent national leadership we would all be enslaved right now. Actually when you think about how many people we already have in jail maybe I'm saying this far too late. Its my understanding we incarcerate more people than any other country one earth. We certainly have multi-layered police forces that unite as one at slight provocation; it would not take much research to find instance after instance of clear over reaction by those same forces. If we saw anything during the Bush years it was how quick the nation is to throw away any notions of liberty or even human decency; we spy on our own and torture.

So as I see it anyone who doesn't fear a Police State in this county must have their eye's closed; from the Agencies at the top of Governments ability to capture every known thing about you to the local cop who might actually capture you, its just one continuous chain.. As I see it the dreaded thing, the Police State, is already here and poised for use by the first crackpot to take the public's fancy. We've shown our willingness to accept Facism, we've got a Police State in place, well financed and connected to and by the top, all we need to finish baking this potential nightmare is one willing despot. Scares me.

[notesdev]

1. Who else?

Is going to keep the debt slaves on the plantation?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. Oy.

[Echo In Light]

3. k/r

[gateley]

4. Great pic. nt

[TK421]

5. I'm in the first row...sixth one back, in case you are interested

the stormtrooper behind me kept trying to grab my ass

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

6. It's been budding for a long time now.

Teaspoon Door Newspaper in San Diego broken into and vandalized by police twice, the last time they burnt it. That happened in the sixties. And now they listen to our phones, read our computers and do just about anything they want to. The up side of all of this is that theres way more of us then them and when the time comes to counter it, all we have to do is nothing at all, just stay home, don't go work, just make it all come to a screeching stop. They can't take us all.

[RandomThoughts]

7. It only matters if you change how you live or chose to be.

If you still are the person you would be if they were not there, then it does not matter if they are or not.


I got a few regulars that talk to me also. Back in the day I use to get helicopters, not so much anymore. But it really doesn't matter if you don't change who you want to be.


And they don't have to arrest someone they can smear if they want, had that too.

But most people are good, and most people really believe in justice and the better ways, so that is a push back on the concept of the police state.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

11. Well said, that pretty much sums up my position, I'm 68 now and

don't get any watchers, just do what I want to.

[bvar22]

8. One of the really scary events...

..were the pre-emptive arrests of activists in St Paul before the Republican Convention.
The only crime was that they might have caused a "disruption".

[G_j]

10. 4/16 2000, 600 surrounded & arrested

http://www.media-criticism.com/IMF_WTO_Protests_2000.html

<snip>

..April 16-17 protests in D.C. over the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Terry J. Allen (In These Times, 5/29/00) reports that the D.C. police used pre-emptive raids, restrictions, harassments, arrests and seizures of dubious constitutionality against the demonstrators. In a nutshell, the D.C. police threw away the Constitution in order to combat a peaceful civil disobedience they treated like acts of terrorism.

When it was all over, the Washington Post (4/19/00) thanked D.C. Police Chief Charles Ramsey for the “professional” manner of the DC police. As in Seattle, the D.C. police used chemical weaponry and batons on protesters. (In Seattle it was more widely done.) According to Allen, the day before the protests were to begin (ITT, 4/15), the police entered, searched and closed down the warehouse headquarters used by 300 protesters--without a warrant. In addition, none of the protesters using the building were allowed to recover any medical supplies, literature and banners until the day after the protests were over.

During a key moment in the Sunday (4/16) protest, 1,000 people were peacefully protesting the prison-industrial complex and heading towards the IMF. Suddenly, the D.C. police, 200 in number and some on horseback, surrounded the group and refused to let them leave. After frightening a number of the protesters, the cops ordered the reporters to leave or face arrest. The scene ended when the police arrested 600 protesters (and a few reporters) for utilizing their freedom of speech. Witnesses, such as a NBC cameraman, say that they have never seen the police act like that in a city which has seen innumerable protests in the last thirty years.

In the jails, many activists report that out of the glare of cameras, the police beat, intimidated and humiliated them. As Allen writes, “Numerous people reported that they were left in unheated spaces in wet clothes, without blankets; some were not fed for 24 hours or went long periods without water; despite nonviolence some were shackled ankle to opposite wrist; others endured homophobic and racist comments. Two people were taken to the hospital (Allen, ITT, 5/29/00).”

[warm regards]

9. Good points...and many of these demons were born out of our advancements in technology.