So are we officially a police state yet?

[KillCapitalism]

With the recent stories of the cop in Missouri threatening a young driver with trumped up charges, and the student who was tasered at a Kerry speech, I wonder if we are a police state right now. It seems the police can get away with almost any kind of abuse of power. I used to not understand it when people would shoot at police cruisers in inner-city neighborhoods, but now it's more obvious, some of them are trying to fight back, albeit not in the proper manner. I just wonder how long it will be until the police can just go out in public & crack some skulls or tase citizens into utter submission.

[DrDan]

1. let's not forget the "free speech zones"

perhaps the first indicator of junior's police state.

My wife and I lived in Ethiopia right after the Marxists overthrough Haile Selassie. In a show of free speech, the government made a proclamation that protests were to be legal - and encouraged students to show up at a large square in Addis Ababa (affectionately known as Red Square by the expats). The police of course arrested all that showed up.

I am sure this show-of-force would be admired and copied if junior were aware.

[TechBear_Seattle]

8. "Free speech zones" were created by Clinton

The first such zone appeared in 1999, during the WTO ministerial in Seattle.

[baldguy]

2. In 2004, a guy ordered a t-shirt at a mall shop that said "Give Peace A Chance"

He put it on in the mall after he picked it up, and was immediately arrested for "trespassing".

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Northeast/03/04/iraq.usa.shirt.reut/index.html

[cali]

3. No. Not yet. n/t

[BobRossi]

4. Hate to break it to you...

We became one in 2000.

[NightWatcher]

5. have you seen a swat team raid a house?

I dont care what the reason is, but the police now look more like a military force that an 'peace officer' force. The police have the big guns, so they must rule over all. To speak up is to now conduct oneself in a manner that is disorderly and will result in a forceful takedown. Also whatever you do, dont ever try to carry a bottle of water into a football game else you will find yourself slammed against the fence and 'patted down'.

welcome to the machine

[KurtNYC]

6. the guy who made that video in Missouri

intentionally provoked that cop. It is not that difficult to provoke a cop.

If you want a cop to arrest you, say "You can't arrest me!"
If you want a cop to drag you out of your car, say "I'm not getting out of my car."
etc. It's simple reverse psychology. And it doesn't mean the USA is a police state.

Gutting the Constitution, controlling most of the media, ignoring the Geneva Conventions, denying the right to trial, and maintaining an illegal occupation of a sovereign country -- THOSE actions point to a police state.

[atreides1]

9. Intentionally provked or upholding his rights??

If a cop can be that easily provoked, maybe they should quit and get a job as a school janitor, or selling bibles door to door.

[The Vinyl Ripper]

10. Cops are allegedly *professionals*..

It should be extremely difficult to "provoke" a cop, they are supposedly trained to handle the public.

[KurtNYC]

12. He had that camera on because he intended to provoke something

and he succeeded. There are, I think, a lot of cops who would have done better in that situation (and without Peter Brady's cracking "Time to Change" voice). And there are cops who would have done worse. Provoking the police is not a good idea.

I have given parking tickets back to cops (had them "un-do" it). Got out of a speeding ticket that I deserved in Texas. And I didn't do it by telling the cop "you can't give ME a ticket" or "why should I show you my ID?" Sure there are some abusive cops out there and some guys may just be in a bad mood and in powerful position but in my general experience if you show cops some respect you will get some back and you won't trigger an escalation of force (which is what they are trained to do -- eg. to take charge of the situation, issue clear instructions and get compliance).

[baldguy]

17. So, cops have the mentality of an 8-yr old?

If someone yelled "YOU CAN'T ARREST ME!" to an adult, the adult would say "Now, why would I want to do that?" Some cops have a real desire to enforce the law, protect the people around them and preserve the peace. Others just want to knock heads. Unfortunately, it's the second type that gets the big guns - and enjoys using them.

[Thothmes]

7. Police State

You will know you are in a police state when they come to arrest you for posting questions like this one on the DU.

[LibGranny]

11. Can't buy hats!

I was in a major hat retail store recently and tried to order a hat that said "Buck Fush" and they refused to take my order! I thought I was shopping in the US - but I guess it's all bush country.

[NYCGirl]

13. Which major hat retail store was this? NT

[porphyrian]

14. Nope. Not until we have curfews and armed men bursting into our houses for posting here. - n/t

[lonestarnot]

15. That event is scheduled for next week, this is still this week.

:P

[porphyrian]

16. See, I hate schedules...

;)