Ferguson protests did far more harm than good.
If someone were to design an event to bolster public support for a militarized police state, what would that event look like? Let us imagine:
- The event involves a controversial use of force by police. The event generates a national controversy and debate — a debate which the government has sufficient evidence to win in the end. After facing criticism, the police demonstrate to the country that they were right and opponents were wrong.
- The “victim” is as unsympathetic as possible; a suspect fleeing from an assault and robbery that took place on camera.
- All the physical evidence supports the official version of events — illustrating how witnesses lie to condemn innocent cops.
- Protests emerge and come off as unlikeable as possible, leaving a trail of theft, violence, arson, and destruction.
- The media ends its silence on police brutality long enough to repetitively lionize the police and decry the actions of the deceased suspect and his violent supporters. The media intensely focuses on the wanton violence and the danger of public protests. Every statist pundit in the country chimes in, reiterating the righteousness of the police and the wrongness those who oppose them.
* * * * *
This scenario is not hypothetical. It currently playing out in Missouri, after a grand jury’s decision not to indict Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson after shooting Michael Brown. Dozens of businesses, buildings, and vehicles have been looted and burned to the ground by the aggressive mobs that have exploited the occasion.
The community has been left in ruins and countless new innocent victims have been created by people professing to seek “Justice for Michael Brown.” Images of smoldering wreckage and tearful shopkeepers have seared a lasting impression into the consciousness of the public — one that is beneficial for the perpetuation of the police state. Feelings of helplessness and vulnerability will be easily exploited by agencies desiring an increase in budgets and power.
Police State USA regularly covers police brutality and demonstrates that it is a pervasive problem in this country. Out of all the definitive examples of state-sanctioned violence, why was Michael Brown chosen to be the poster-child of victimhood? The evidence was heavily on the officer’s side, lending itself to the conclusion that Brown was not only a strong-arm robber, but also that he assaulted the first police officer that confronted him.
Perhaps his criminality is why the national media spent so much time covering his case, while ignoring so many other innocent victims.
The Ferguson saga will be nationally remembered as a police officer using justified force to remove a bad guy from the streets using textbook self-defense. The public will remember that people rallied behind a robber, bemoaned police brutality with little to no evidence, then burned their own city to the ground. Ferguson will be pointed out as a reason why police should be decked out with armored vehicles and elaborate measures to disperse crowds.
From a purely consequential perspective, Ferguson was gift to supporters of the police state — wrapped and tied with a bow. While a legitimate case against police brutality can certainly be made, its presentation in Ferguson was an utter failure. This speaks to the importance of carefully choosing political battles and vetting the evidence before taking action. Unfortunately, in this case, the picking the wrong battle will ultimately leave people biased more toward police power than they were before, and the righteous opponents of actual misconduct will be lumped in with violent maniacs who have no respect for the rights of others.
The police are negligent in policing inner city neighborhoods, hence the high level of violent crime. The police need a larger presence and an aggressive plan of action to get it under control.
Does Chicago need a stronger more aggressive police presence or a more gentle approach?
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In a war zone you damn well better bring your A game.
The situation in the inner cities has nothing to do with the police. It has everything to do with the people who live there.
Stop and frisk cut crime in NYC. It’s probably unconstitutional, though. This
is supposedly justifiable. Hmmm.
The people in the inner cities are the blame for the problems they face . I used to have to go into black parts of the cities on a different job.You will not find a more hateful , racist group of people then inner city blacks. I always carry my pistol with me and always had weapons in my truck. I can only imagine the hate white cops must feel in these cities. No white person there right mind would want to be around these people.
Not a lot of black people want to be around them either…
MA
They should wall up those areas, then drop in thousands and thousands of guns and millions of rounds of ammo. When no more gunfire is heard, they can take the walls down again.
The function of police is to pursue and arrest criminals in a civilized society, in my opinion. Police simply cannot provide security in an uncivilized or corrupt society. Society first and foremost must protect itself, and demand its citizens by and large behave in a civilized way.
People have opted to turn that responsibility over to the govt. And that is a fatal mistake. Check out how New Orleans did after Katrina for Exhibit A.
Society no longer protects itself,instead it expects Big Brother to do that. Yep, that will end well.
Explains the behavior of Jay Nixon, Bob Mc Colloch and other Democrats in Ferguson affair. While they are slimyassholes at best and revolutionaries at worst they are not stupid. This is as good an explanation of what is happening as I have seen. Another step in the progressives plans to implement the patriot act. I know PA was Bushs deal he is a slimy asshole as well.
The U.S. Military is trained..to kick ass and take no names….the U.S. Police Departments are being trained as they were U.S. Military….THAT is the problem…….imho
Fuck you bb.
While I did find some confusion as to my carelessness, I had no problem in Compton, CA.
Treat people nice, and they will return the favor.
Found the same in Watts, CA.
Dan militarization of police is not the problem. The problem is eunochization of the police. In Ferguson they stood by and did nothing but poke the rioters with a stick. When the thugs were burning down the business district the cops arrested 50 or 60 per night. If they had arrested 500 the riots would have stopped. Militarized police stand around with their thumbs up their asses and wait to ” enforce the law on white tax payers” . Fuck the police and their politician bosses.