Is the United States a Police State ?

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   PeterStipposted 8 years ago

   Is the United States a Police State ?
   
   Almost every week you can read something in the news about violent behaviour of policeman. If you would ask a black person if they trusted the police, the answer would be in most cases No. Which isn't strange if you know that 40% of the inmates is black (considering African-Americans constitute only 12 percent of America's population).
   Do You trust the Police ?
   
   

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   Herban Cowgirlposted 8 years ago

   I'm the whitest, white bread, white girl you've ever seen, I practically glow in the dark--I do not trust the police.  Let me explain:
   
   Individual officers are not the problem.  Most officers are good one on one, and they are doing their best to serve and protect; they deserve some respect and gratitude.  Get to know your local officers, you can see pretty quickly that there are very few corrupt or violent men/women among them.  Often, they are good people put in high stress situations.
   
   However, once you begin to look at those bodies who regulate and run the police departments you start to see some pretty serious corruption. The DEA, homeland security, and the NSA have all contributed to making the US a police state and forcing the good men and women who decide to serve as officers do things that are in violation of our constitutional and human rights.  Non-violent offenders are treated with the same as truly violent bad guys simply because we've decided to approach everyone as if they were the next Boston Marathon Bomber.  Any suspicion of wrong doing can be cause for harassment, search, seizure, and arrest; and all of these stressful situations can turn to violence and brutality in the blink of an eye.
   
   So, do I feel that the US is a police state?  Yes.  I just don't blame the policemen.

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      PeterStipposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      thank you for your clear statement. In my original question I forgot to mention the countless private enterprises that guard/protect schools,shops,public buildings etc.
      Sometimes I feel guilty without doing anything. Metal detectors, cameras etc.

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      ahorsebackposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I have been watching some very interesting U Tube encounters where people refuse to be intimidated by police in search and seizure .  I actually appreciate that !   In places -there ARE too many , in others ?

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   ahorsebackposted 8 years ago

   No , it isn't , Can you even begin to imagine just how  bad his country would be without police ? I mean look at the inner cities , the gangs , Look at the anarchy of how traffic would run wild without some sense of order .  One has to have been around awhile to realize that basic human nature differs soo much from person to person .   I live in a very rural area with little police coverage , it would seem  that  traffic gets weird ,  a little to free range in behavior , if you will.  No , man needs order in his day to day existence .

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      PeterStipposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      true, a society needs police. My question was more like, is there to much police around ? (including the private sector, guarding schools, hospitals etc.)

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      Herban Cowgirlposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I also live in the middle of nowhere.  Law and order is fine, living under almost constant surveillance is not.  Being subject to illegal search and seizure is not okay either, and I have had it happen by officers just doing their job.

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      LoisRyan13903posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      The more populated the area, the more police you need,  I live in a small city where a cop drives up our street once in a while

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   LoisRyan13903posted 8 years ago

   Violent behavior of policemen?  As I recall Michael Brown went after the police officer's gun and was going to use it on him  if he got it.  Christian Taylor was trashing a car dealership and went after the police officer.  He might have been high or something.  Two violent men were killed by police officers whose duties are to serve and protect not serve and be killed.  Don't get me wrong, it's too bad these two men are dead.  If they only complied, they would still be alive and getting whatever help they need.
   
   I remember hearing that 40% of the inmates are African Americans.  What are they in jail for?  Rape, murder, drugs, assault?  I know that some are falsely accused like one guy who was in jail for a long time for  something he didn't do. DNA evidence freed him.
   
   Basically the news needs to stop.  They always mention when an African American is killed by a cop-makes national news, but you don't see a lot of mention, protests and such when a white person is killed.  Some people accuse me of the "White Privilege" but what of "Black Privilege" when some individuals think they are above the law?
   
   I don't think there is too much police around.  In the high school in my area there is a police unit and metal detectors for about the past 20 years, because there have been shootings there in the past.  Plus in all the govt buildings for the same reasons.
   
   I do trust the police.  There may been who let their position get over their head.  One such incident was a cop arresting a 13 year old black girl at a pool party.  This was on the news.  He was abusive towards her and she didn't deserve this.  But because of a handful, doesn't mean the rest of them are a problem.
   
   As for the original question, I don't think there are enough police officers to make it a police nation

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      PeterStipposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      thanks for your opinion. Maybe the true reason why there is so many violence, and therefore so many police and private security companies is the easy access of guns. It's far to easy to buy guns with all the consequences.

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      LoisRyan13903posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      That's so true.  Even if they get strict gun control laws, they would still be able to be obtained

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   Faceless39posted 8 years ago

   Of COURSE!! It's the most obvious thing on the planet! People live in fear of the police, and if they don't, they're clearly sleep walking. I've experienced this firsthand when I lived in Ann Arbor for college, and then again in Minneapolis for school. Militant "police" on horseback, armed with guns familiar to war veterans. It's not unfamiliar to see tanks roll through the streets these days in America.. it's now commonplace to hear about cops shooting/killing before they even ascertain who the people are (often they have the wrong people/ wrong house.) It's ridiculous. I cannot believe that people on here seriously believe that cops are our friends, somehow. Do you even pay attention on any level whatsoever to the real news? I'm convinced that most people in the US are completely brainwashed, past dealing with on any rational level whatsoever.

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      LoisRyan13903posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I smoke cigs outside because I dont want to expose hubs and kids.  I noticed a cop driving by slowly looking at me.  I hear that people who have meth labs smoke outdoors to prevent explosions.

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      PeterStipposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Oh boy...LoisRyan you're a first class bad-ass terrorist.... If I where you I would go low profile the next couple of weeks ;-)

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      LoisRyan13903posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      @Peter former military, anti-terrorist

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      PeterStipposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      terrorist, freedom fighter. What's the difference ... Depends on the side your on. I think a bit of civil disobedience is very healthy.

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      LoisRyan13903posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I believe that we are in the middle of another Civil War

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      PeterStipposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I don't know the US that well, but my impression is that there is too much inequality? Global there are huge problems too. So yes, there is something brewing.

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