One of the things in the news is a relatively new awareness of the increasingly extreme "militarization" of the police forces, from body protection to armored vehicles, often explained as "surplus" from the war machine.
But another explanation is that it is a direct result and consequence of the call for increased security that was drummed up in the wake of the 9-11 terrorist event. The fear that was raised at every opportunity and the instigation of protective measures, from taking shoes off at airlines, to NSA spying on Americans, tapping cell phones without warrents and torturing of prisoners.
People were told they needed increased security, and that meant outfitting police to wage "war" on the terrorists that would be around every corner under every bed if we were not protected.
"When you give up freedom for security you deserve neither" is attributed to Ben Franklin ... but -- because of the law of unintended consequences -- what you end up with is a police state where you are "protected" by militarized security forces while your rights and freedoms are being compromised by those very same security forces in a much more devastating manner than the terrorists could ever have hoped to accomplish.
When you gave up being America, "the land of the free and the home of the brave," this is what you wished for.
Are you feeling lucky?
Enjoy.
Edited by RAZD, : .