Over the last few weeks, the events this fall have shown on what side of history the security apparatus of the United States stands. While one hand will jump on its international soapbox and praise the virtue of civil rights loudly, the other hand savagely represses even the most basic freedoms. The cold and swift press crackdown in NYC during the OWS raids was only a recent and highly publicized event, in a sea of similar incursions. It would seem, to the casual observer that the Constitution is only invoked in cases that favor the state, and is all but forgotten otherwise. Henceforth, the casual observer would not be wrong if he assumed that document to be as dead as dead could be.
The security forces have undergone a slow transformation from a community orientated force of protection according to the ideals of a social contract, to the armed force of the higher powers. It does not take much to draw the lines between corporate money and the people that “control” the actions of the police, the state. Obviously the state has much to gain by keeping the status quo, and is using the police forces of various cities to suppress the Occupy movement in it’s whole. This is illustrated best when campers in line for the newest Twilight book can construct elaborate tent cities on public land, but campers in line for free speech and direct democracy are shot, gassed, Db’d, attacked, arrested and injured.
Thus, for one to suggest a “reform of the police” without taking into account the framework that controls the police, is pointless. Are police needed? I think so, but in a way to allow full transparency and accountability to the communities they served, under the laws that community has issued, and being a voluntarily society. The police of today use violence to enforce laws voted on only by the powers on high, and often these “crimes” are punitive, victimless, or in most cases, both. As was proved in Nuremberg and as will be proved later here in this country I believe, simply “following orders” will not be a defense to your crimes against your communities.
So, I ask you, when you see a “friendly cop” please, don’t wave.
- Joey
You can’t reform something that is systemically broken. You have to throw it out.
Besides, when it comes to the government and reform, reform almost always means something worse.
@Difster
After reading your post, I honestly don’t know what to think. Although, I guess all this happens because a lot of people support this state of affairs. You only have to read comments at Fox News and even at Yahoo coming from people supporting a tough police whenever cops abuse somebody and claiming that when cops abuse innocent civilians is justified. It’s really scary. You only have to read how much support draw those conservatives like Palin, Gingrich, Trump, etc.
Does all this have to do with the Puritan Anglo-Saxon mentality? It might. Just check how oppressive are laws and police in the U.K. and other former English colonies [Australia, etc.]
I couldnt agree with you more. This goes far beyond the actions of the police themselves; they are trained and brainwashed, selected based on their inability to think for themselves, in order to unwaveringly obey each and every command, even if it means harming (and as we have seen even murdering) those who they are sworn to protect. The change needs to happen at the top, which is why I support the Occupy movement.
Most of society disagrees with you. Most of society has no dealing with police because they don’t break the law. When you say cops use violence to enforce law is not true. Does violence happen? yes of course. It’s very rare and it doesn’t happen all day. Any kind of physical altercation is usually up to the PERP. When being told your under arrest put your hand behind your back, Thats It… comply. If you resist arrest and try to flee, what do you think is going to happen? As far as protests, its the same thing. You don’t get to throw in your changed version of the local laws and say your not breaking them. NYC’s day of rage/OWS there were claims of police this police that. blah blah. Mean while there was over 32,000 peaceful people marching around with no problems, accept for 300 morons trying to get on youtube and the news to promote the cause. Society sees right through it.
And Yes. There are a few vile bad scumbag cops in every dept and they need to be outed and removed.
@maddog_squid
Oh, really? Do you really believe a word of what you just posted?
If there were a “FEW scumbag cops” as you claim; how come the web-site http://www.injusticeeverywhere.com has at least 50 or more DAILY stories about CORRUPT COPS across the U.S.? The stories are not made up by the site’s owner, he links different newspapers where the stories first broke up. How do you explain all those stories then? A “FEW” scumbag cops?
Cops, as well as D.A. prosecutors and judges in the U.S are FULL of SHIT. Cops do abuse their power because many elected lawmakers [clowns] have created a lot of MALICIOUS laws that protect and shield cops when they commit crimes against civilians. Example, the BART shooting where a clown cop supposedly mistook a gun with a Taser. The thug [cop] only got 18 months by the JUDGE who reviewed the case. Had it happened the other way around and the cop would’ve been the victim, how much time in jail would the corrupt judge had given the civilian?
Cops usually get away with murder in the U.S. Because cops are not held accountable for their bad actions and enjoy immunity. They only get a slap in the wrist. In this country, a cop with a gun can commit the most heinous crime and is given the benefit of the doubt. That’s why our country is slowly but steadily going down.
If you check this web-site : http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2010 , you will notice that the U.S. doesn’t lead as the less corrupt country in the world. Scandinavian countries and even our northern neighbor Canada lead the list.
Also, our judiciary system is corrupt beyond recognition. Do you remember those two judges from Pennsylvania who were accepting kickbacks from a prison owner to incarcerate teenagers for misdemeanors?
Again, that way we are and the path we are following is the same path followed by the Soviet Union under Stalin. Open your eyes before it’s too late and, don’t think because none of these abuses have happened SO FAR to one of your loved ones, it’s not gonna happen.
Lastly, if leave you this quote, read it and think about it:
First they came for the communists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
@not sure
Your comment made me laugh. It wasn’t a chuckle either, but a very long and audible laugh. This website is based on stories with no real facts. I read a book once on surgery, but I would never try it on a person. Police officers in the modern day have a deeper understanding of the system than ever before. It is the roadside lawyer who has fallen behind in understanding. LEO standards have increased while the protesters are lacking. Brainwashed is a poor choice of words. Educated is more fitting. You should occupy a classroom, or a job, then maybe you could have a valid opinion
Being serious, let’s compare. To be a police officer it is about 600 hours of academy training, with most agencies looking for at least 60 hours college credit. To be in OWS the requirement is….um…. a lot of free time? I know who I trust to make life choices.
Difster:
I had thought your web-site was against injustices committed in this country not matter who commits them. But I see you have an obsession with cops ONLY. Cops are only a component of the big equation called CORRUPTION which wraps this country from coast to coast.
If we didn’t have a corrupt judiciary system as we do, things would be much different from they way they are now. Cops are the way they are because they know very well they will get impunity when doing bad deeds, from judges and D.A.s [prosecutors] and while this goes on like this, they will not change.
When I saw your site for the first time, I thought, WOW! somebody with guts and brains to denounce injustices not matter whom they come but I see I’m mistaken.
I posted some clever and long post yesterday and supposedly it was “awaiting moderation” before being posted but in the end, it did not go through. It got censored. So, bottom line, your site is not much different from those biased big television networks that many times side with cops and corruption in this country.
I wish you the best of luck with your “only cops obsession” site and let’s see if you succeed criticizing only one branch of the many ailments that affect this country.
Carlos
I looked it up.. Bill of Rights says we have the right to protest and free speech. Couldn’t find the part where it says you can take over a private park in NY and turn it into you personal campground. Also didn’t find the part where is says you can take public land and do the same either. Missed the part where you can do 2 Million in property damage if your protesting in San Francisco. Couldn’t find where it mentioned where you can block sidewalks and streets, prohibiting other American’s of thier right to free travel. Also missed the part where you can throw bottles and rocks at the police as well.
Anyone got a link to the Amendment that states this?
More on the filth ruining this nation that the blu-goons PROTECT! while they bleed we tax-payers for plush pensions/retirement packages we will NEVER see!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=P4hVZYHW2So
Tell me, who the hell are the patriots and who the hell are the treasonous swine?
@ carlos.. Yep he sure has a bunch on there. 20-40 a day or so.. But most seem to be either allegations, or complaints of follow up stories. Every time the news does a story on me, he would most likely add it too his site.. doesn’t mean those 20 articles are 20 examples of bad police.
@ carlos.. Yep he sure has a bunch on there. 20-40 a day or so.. But most seem to be either allegations, or complaints of follow up stories. Every time the news does a story on me, he would most likely add it too his site.. doesn’t mean those 20 articles are 20 examples of bad police.
“New York NY cop found to have acted recklessly in a police commission hearing over the fatal shooting of Sean Bell on his wedding day. Though the police commissioner has recommended firing the officer, it’s not clear yet if that’s what will happen as a result of the finding. [0] bit.ly/rW6nDJ
Listed December 1st, 2011.. Shooting happened in 2006. So it’s not really a bad cop of the day story.. just more information. I wonder how many Sean Bell stories are in there??
Here’s one for you carlos..from that site.
http://www.themonitor.com/news/mcallen-57051-officer-san.html
“We take these allegations very seriously, and I take a zero tolerance policy with domestic abuse incidents,” Gonzalez said. “The allegations turned out to be true (but) once a conviction comes through, it will be an automatic termination.”
kid will lose his job for a fight with his gf. How many other jobs out there would fire an employee over it? The most arrests any department makes is for domestic.. yet the general public is still employed. And he’s going to get fired 30 seconds after he’s found guilty, if he’s found guilty, how much more swifter should it be? Should he be fired right now? Does the presumption of innocence not apply to police officers?
Here is a quote from two trolls on the website.
“wah wah wah, whine whine whine, you’re wrong!”
-PSOSGT
-Malloy
It is obvious that you do not support this website, but the fact that it is here and has a substantial following (including yourselves) shows that it is addressing a real issue. Your points of view have been heard, but there is no need to be disrespectful to other people here. When you act in such a way you are just affirming the allegations that are brought forth here.