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Written by Michael Z Williamson

Created: 26 December 2017

But not the way you think.

America was founded on the concept of equal opportunity, vs equal outcomes, and our Constitution specifically prohibits titles of nobility or royalty.

This has not stopped our culture from stratifying into three broad categories--the commoners, the Celebrities, and the Ruling class, or effective nobility, and the latter's Enforcers.

The commoners are accountable under law and pay heavy penalties for digressing from the convoluted path dictated by the Ruling Class. Commoners have their assets seized--houses, cars, bank accounts, even wardrobes, if an Enforcer of the ruling class claims he thinks he smelled something that might have been pot, or maybe just some burning leaves a few blocks away.

The commoner's recourse is to beg, plead, hope that someday Justice Will Be Done, and he'll recover what hasn't been sold, destroyed or flat out stolen, and maybe he won't have spent his entire future, and his children's, recovering it. http://reason.com/blog/2017/12/15/no-damages-for-victims-of-kansas-pot-rai 

Meanwhile, the Ruling Class can literally ignore a very simple federal law, such as one that distils as, "It is illegal to leave sensitive data insecure," and argue that "Well, no one actually got hurt that you know of, so the law doesn't apply to me."  And have fawning lackeys try to double-talk that a crime that other people do get put in jail for is not actually a crime when a Special Person does it. https://www.computerworld.com/article/2895892/hillary-clintons-email-system-was-insecure-for-two-months.html 

The Celebrity Class can be glamorized as heroic while attacking others and evade law with impunity. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Polanski#Sexual_abuse_case   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Weinstein_sexual_abuse_allegations 

The Enforcement Class can gun you down dead where you stand, shrug and claim it was an accident, and really, actually your fault for not understanding their policies that they clearly shouted at you. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mesa-police-shooting-daniel-shaver-seen-crawling-begging-in-disturbing-video/ 

Some time back I asked myself, "What is the downside of being a federal politician?"  Congressmen get a high salary, almost unlimited travel and other perqs, invites to any number of shindigs paid for by others, "fact finding missions" and "Summits" in exotic parts of the world.  Certainly, some of them do legitimate work in the process, but they have the finest working conditions in human history, and are just about unaccountable. They have to anger both the opposition and their own party before anything is done, and even that is usually minimally inconvenient. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Traficant#Prison_and_later_life 

Celebrities are revered for doing jobs no harder than any other, simply with more visibility, and treated as if they are thereby relevant. You're an athlete who dropped out of school? What do you think of this scientific crisis? You're an actor with a few college credits or some generic liberal arts degree? What do you think of this major legal matter? http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2017/12/26/rosie-odonnell-tells-paul-ryan-hes-going-straight-to-hell.html 

https://nypost.com/2017/11/11/the-hypocrisy-of-bono-and-his-one-charity/ 

The Enforcers are pretty much immune from the laws they enforce.  Police (and I mean when not responding to an emergency) can speed, violate traffic signs, toss their cigarette waste out the window, text while driving, and if anyone questions, they pull out a badge and walk away. Even, as noted, if they've murdered you in a fashion that would send a commoner to jail for life. Or worse. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ex-georgia-deputy-acquitted-after-flash-bang-grenade-hurts-toddler-n479361 

What America needs is more violence.

A few Celebrities getting beaten senseless would remind them that not everyone adores and worships them. Take away the pretty looks and many of them are unemployable.

But how does that violence improve things? Simple: It makes them aware that their opinions matter no more than others, and at the end of the day, anyone's outrageous statement can result in an ass kicking, and if that's a problem, possibly fewer outrageous statements are in order. https://jezebel.com/5369395/whoopi-on-roman-polanski-it-wasnt-rape-rape  Because common people risk abuse and jail for protesting and resisting. In the past, in fact, even some celebrities did so, such as when they marched with Dr King. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/celebrities-who-joined-the-march-on-washington/2013/08/19/ed761f1a-005a-11e3-9711-3708310f6f4d_gallery.html?utm_term=.f905d43486ec 

A handful of effective assassinations a year would make the Ruling Class aware that the ultimate democratizer is death, and that the constituents they claim to represent expect results, or preferably, inaction, to endless blather followed by pointless regulation and jackbootery. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/02/democratic-lawmaker-dont-worry-constitution-health-care-overhaul.html 

But how, I'm asked, will we keep good politicians in place like that?

That's the point. If they feel a need, they should run, serve, and get out.  It was never intended to be a lifetime gravy train for the animals that are more equal than others.  Clint Eastwood served a single term as mayor, then went home. http://mentalfloss.com/article/78257/30-years-ago-clint-eastwood-was-elected-mayor-carmel-california We need more of that.  

This also applies to bureaucrats. If someone in extreme agony from joint or neural issues blows away an FDA paper pusher, perhaps the rest will be reminded that their job is to approve effective medications, not create more pages of rules. Or perhaps they'll just quit, and we can let people decide for themselves if the pain is worth the risk of other side effects, rather than having some chair-warmer decide for them.

The Enforcers would be much better aware of their obligations if a few more of them died in the immoral process of kicking in a door that doesn't have a life or death situation behind it. They should be asking themselves, "Is someone else's life in danger? Because if not, I shouldn't be using a weapon."  Does that entail risk? Certainly. But when was the last time you heard a military commander, or a fire chief, announce, "The important thing is that my people went home safe"? Sure, the building burned down and 200 people died, but not a single firefighter was hurt, thank God.

We demand more bravery and responsiveness from firefighters than cops.

If someone calls an Enforcer, it's because there might actually be a risk to life, and he's entirely a volunteer who has accepted that call. If his life is more valuable to him than that of those he (allegedly) serves, that's fine.  But he needs to find another profession.

And yes, a few of them getting blown away with the same impunity with which they blow away completely unarmed non-threats might remind them of that fact, and send the weak ones to easier paths. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/family-justine-damond-australian-woman-killed-my-minneapolis-police-calls-n831686 

They should absolutely be held to at least the same standards as Commoners, and given the exact same punishment for wrongdoing. No special funds for defense, no assumption that any shot is a good shot, no country club prisons with other cops and politicians, safe from the violence visited on ordinary criminals. Because if they violate the public trust, they ARE ordinary criminals.

Now, I've had people who claim to be pro cop (meaning, they don't think cops can ever be fallible) ask if I understand that officer would be raped to death by inmates the first day in Gen Pop.

Gosh, I hope not.

With luck, they can pass him around for six weeks, and then finish him off with a toilet plunger. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abner_Louima 

And that might be a good lesson for the rest of them.

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Written by Michael Z Williamson

Created: 23 December 2017

From time to time, someone who used to be a Marine will loudly announce that they used to be a Marine, and then proceed to lecture you on why that credential is somehow impressive.

In this case, it was a thread under this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CO6M2HsoIA 

He then proceeded to tell us how being a Mareen Muhrean Mar...grunt, made him an expert on this.

I pointed out that having been a Marine, of itself, gave no credibility.

He replied with:

~~~

Well, wasn't that special.

It's fake. But even if it was real, let's explain how this goes down:

THEM: "Facial recognition."

US: "All troops will now wear masks or paint their faces in geometric camo."

US: "Develop a counter drone and ECM."

US: "Hack that sucker and bring them down."

US: "Now send them back to source. Aim every one of those motherfuckers at the president of that country. I want him e-fucked to death by an orgy of a million drones."

In the meantime, if only there were some gadget our troops could wear on their heads that would slow or stop a 3 gram charge. Something made of kevlar or carbon fiber and fitted to the shape of the head...possibly with something over the eyes, so the standoff distance was too great for such a charge.

And if only there were something we could deploy that would trap those little rascals. Something made of some kind of loosely woven cloth, that we might call a "mesh."

Now onto the rest of Former Marine Boy's post: 

The machine gun is a lot older than 100 years or WWI.  And the fact that a single French general was a retard does not change the fact that both sides had the weapon, and matched others, and therefore were at a standstill for years.

As far as "The same weapons as 50 years ago," I haven't seen any F4s, M60 MBTs, or even any M60 machine guns lately.  Though it's true:  We still use aircraft, tanks and machine guns, just like we did in WWI.

The important thing here is that being a "Former Marine" is irrelevant to anything that wasn't in that Marine's MOS or duty experience.  He may know certain other things AS AN INDIVIDUAL, but being a "former Marine" has nothing to do with it.  It's a ludicrous authority to appeal to. Certainly, there are former Marines who are geniuses. Others are borderline retards. Some have served with great distinction. Others were cowards or deranged assassins.

Since Gene doesn't state he was either an RPV operator, an intel or threat analysis expert, or a War College graduate with relevant research experience, his actual experience (and since he doesn't say "Rifleman," I'm going to guess clerk or supply) means dick.

And as a currently best selling SF author, I can assure you of that.

Details

Written by Michael Z Williamson

Created: 11 December 2017

As everyone knows by now, Mesa PD engaged in a game of "Simon Says" combined with "Twister" involving short barreled rifles with a completely innocent citizen, and blew him away when he wiggled wrong.

I'd like to address some obvious failures in the procedure the department devised.

EDIT: And first, why did they assume a report of "Man with a rifle aiming it" was 100% accurate? The person could be mistaken as to if it was a gun, if it was being pointed, and it assumes pure intent on their part, not intent to have someone shaken down because the caller doesn't like guns.  And people have previously died under those conditions. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_John_Crawford_III

Now, every competent cop on the planet, most veterans with training in house clearing, and anyone with a brain knows that you want to detain and control a suspect quickly. The longer a dance goes on, the more the risk of something happening to someone.

Ideally, you have the suspect prone out, cover him will someone else cuffs him, then search for weapons.  You can also have him lean against a wall or car. A competent officer can even do it alone. It's certainly safer if you have two or more.  One covers, one restrains.

Mesa came up with some bizarre dance where the suspect lies prone, hands on head, crosses his legs, kneels up, gets shouted at for using his hands, puts his hands straight up in the air, is told to keep them there while somehow crawling, then gets his brains blown out. This process takes five minutes and endangers bystanders. 

What would have happened if someone else came out of a hotel room or around the corner of the corridor? What would have happened if those fired rounds had penetrated thin hotel walls and killed someone else?

The answer, of course, is that Mitch the Bitch Brailsford would have walked away from two or more murders, not just one.

So, Option One, as discussed:  One officer covers, one approaches, cuffs, then searches. There are finer points to this, but that's the basics.

Option Two: If you are really terrified of this subject, you have him remain motionless while the second officers (and they had six) takes a wide arc around. In a hotel hallway, you could even have one or more officers go down a floor, up another stairwell, and approach from behind.  Problem solved.

There's two failures of training or ability for a simple procedure that is done literally thousands of times per day.

Failures in the order process:  I heard a statement that the changing positions are deliberately designed to keep the subject confused.  That's wrong.

What if the subject is of low intellect?

What if he is intoxicated?

What if he is hard of hearing?

What if he was just clocked in the head in whatever engagement you are responding to, and is not cognizant?

What if he is mentally ill?

What if he's just terrified of weapons pointed at him and unable to track other matters?

Well, I guess nothing, if your intent is to find a reason to murder someone.

Now, what if the subject has an injured or incapacitated arm and can't raise his hand into one of these positions?

I guess you have another reason to make his children orphans.

Then you want him to cross legs, then somehow kneel.

Fun fact: There are a lot of people who can't kneel. Bad knees, bad ankles, poor balance.

Once again you get to make a brain salad.

Then you want them to crawl, with an implication to keep their hands above their head (it was never stated he should move his hands after he was told to "keep them there or we will kill you") that is not stated.  This is an impossible command to follow. As stated, it's impossible. As implied, it's not as stated.

I can deduce exactly how this entire idiotic procedure came about. They probably rehearsed it. They had someone play the subject, talked them through the process, and determined it was feasible.

The problems would be: That actor did not have loaded rifles pointed at their head.

That actor would be quickly familiar with the routine after seeing it or rehearsing it.

That actor was probably another cop, physically fit, well-rested, and not confused, terrified or hindered in any way that would complicate matters.

This is a legitimate example of "privilege." The rehearsal involved fit, aware, competent individuals with no hindrances given to them by nature or the situation.

When you put an actual victim in there, intoxicated, terrified, innocent, who realizes his pants are slipping down and, per our cultural mores, tries to correct that moral problem, it means he moves in a way that poor little Mitch the Bitch, armored, armed, with his custom "You're Fucked" rifle and his awesome tattoos, just itching to blow someone away, gets his lifelong ambition. And gets to claim that he and his five buddies were just terrified to death of this prone guy in shorts.

Then the pig, the department and the city get to shrug and say, "Well, it works perfectly in simulation. We don't know what went wrong here. Good police work, though."

My analysis of this bizarre dance is that it was deliberately designed to offer the maximum opportunity for incompetence, error and murder.

And no one with any sense of self preservation should ever enter the city limits of Mesa. You have better odds in Vegas. Mesa doesn't have a police department. They have a murder squad.

Details

Written by Michael Z Williamson

Created: 09 December 2017

We asked several police officers nationwide how to handle interactions with law enforcement. These were their responses:

 

The birthday party down the street is a little noisy. What should I do?

Call us and we'll shoot the dog. That will quiet the little punks down. 

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/oklahoma-shoots-kills-family-dog-birthday-party-article-1.2719156

~~~

What if I have a service dog?

No problem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O9GmUcp0Mo

~~~

You shot my dog! Now what?

You need to saw its head off so we can test it for rabies. Or else you go to jail.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article188099994.html

~~~

I think my friend is suicidal.

We can fix that problem for him.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/12/05/oklahoma-city-officer-charged-in-fatal-shooting-man.html

~~~

That's really not a good fix.

Well, there are other options.  We can try to cheer him up.

http://www.kansascity.com/latest-news/article206165144.html 

~~~

I see a kid in the park with what might be a toy gun.

No problem. We've got this.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Tamir_Rice

~~~

I saw a guy near the gun counter of WalMart with a gun. What should I do?

Call us and we'll shoot him on sight.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_John_Crawford_III

~~~

I possibly saw a gun through a hotel window, even though that's legal in this state.

We've got a procedure for that. Our swat team will make him do the hokey pokey then shoot him.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mesa-police-shooting-daniel-shaver-seen-crawling-begging-in-disturbing-video/

~~~

My neighbor is deaf, is that going to be a problem?

No, the bullets will kill him just as easily.

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/09/21/552527929/oklahoma-city-police-fatally-shoot-deaf-man-despite-yells-of-he-cant-hear-you

~~~

If I'm helping a disabled person and the cops arrive, what should I do?

Seriously, we have no idea either. We'll probably open fire.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article90905442.html

~~~

If a disabled, mentally ill person needs help, what should I do?

Call us, of course. That's an easy one.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/23/us/texas-amputee-shooting/index.html

~~~

Seriously?  You'd shoot me?

Well, not always.

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/investigations/article205363229.html 

~~~

I'm not the mentally ill person you're looking for.  I'm not sure why you're here.

Our expert says you're mentally ill. We don't need to see your identification. We're going to forcibly medicate you now. But you'll get a free steak dinner.

http://on.wpxi.com/2E49p2a 

~~~

We think a teenager may have taken explicit photos of himself. What should we do?

Call us and we'll send a child molester to make definitely sure there's video of him.

http://reason.com/blog/2017/12/07/4th-circuit-says-forcing-a-teenager-to-m

~~~

What if I have no legal problem and call outside for first aid?

We'll shoot at your dog, miss and hit your daughter instead.

http://thefreethoughtproject.com/780k-settlement-cop-shoots-4yo-daughter/ 

~~~

Is it proper to produce my wallet and ID when confronted by police?

It certainly helps us with paperwork.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Amadou_Diallo

~~~

You're good at identifying the right target, I hope.

Sure.  Of course, if you're a small Asian woman we might mistake you for a large black man. But don't worry, we'll have some charity replace your truck after we shoot it full of holes.  Totally not our fault.  Stress of the moment, you all look alike to us.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dorner_shootings_and_manhunt

~~~

If I have drugs, you'll be careful about my family, I hope.

Suuuure.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/01/13/indiana-court-overturns-drug-conviction-after-swat-team-detonates-stun-grenade-near-a-baby/?utm_term=.afac63cc8d02

~~~

I make every effort to abide by the law, including asking for police inspections.  I assume I'm good.

Maybe. Got anything interesting? Or sellable?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/03/30/what-life-is-like-after-police-ransack-your-house-and-take-every-belonging-then-the-charges-are-dropped/?utm_term=.937a9c63f622

~~~

We don't sell drugs.  We should be fine, right?

Our paid stooge says you sell drugs. Your baby has it coming.

https://atlantadailyworld.com/2016/03/02/georgia-family-gets-3-6-million-after-cops-throw-grenade-at-baby/

~~~

Really, I don't sell drugs.

What do you mean you don't sell drugs?  Our experts know better.

http://www.cracked.com/personal-experiences-2467-6-things-i-learned-when-cops-raided-my-house-by-mistake.html

~~~

What's the procedure if you do think I have drugs?

A scientific search.

https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/26/opinion/sunday/kristof-3-enemas-later-still-no-drugs.html

~~~

What should I do if you conduct a sting on my premises? Do you need help?

No, we're going to seize your property for the crime we pretended to commit.

https://ij.org/case/new-york-city-evictions/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&fbclid=IwAR3p1x3_an9zjWTUanipWX1_b2xu6b2ogNVdJhp33WoBvBk3mfDQifwAUN8

~~~

So I should follow all instructions and everything will go fine.

Yup. Perfectly fine. It makes it much easier.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-officer-shot-unarmed-black-man-20170402-story.html

~~~

If you realize you have the wrong house, will I be okay?

Mmmmmaybe......not.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/georgia-police-shoot-homeowner-responding-wrong-home/story?id=39723930

~~~

If I'm 92 years old, and you have the wrong house, what happens?

Oh, we'll make it the right house. We'll fire 39 shots at you and hit you with about 6. Then we'll shoot each other.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathryn_Johnston_shooting

~~~

What?  You don't shoot each other often, do you?

Well, accidents happen.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2013/06/21/cadet-shot-in-head-during-police-training-exercise-honored-at-graduation/

~~~

If I wind up getting shot, you'll administer first aid, yes?

Why would we do that?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Deandre_Brunston

~~~

If I'm stopped for a traffic violation, should I tell you I'm legally carrying a weapon?

If you like.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Philando_Castile

~~~

What if I'm sitting in my car unarmed?

We'll break the window, drag you out, and put a bullet in your brain, for "officer safety." 

http://www.cleveland19.com/story/37201963/federal-court-sides-with-family-upholds-verdict-in-2012-deadly-police-shooting-of-unarmed-suspect-kenneth-smith-roger-jones 

~~~

Look, you don't just shoot everyone you encounter, do you?

Nah, we also have dogs.

http://www.twincities.com/2017/12/06/lawsuit-woman-taking-out-garbage-attacked-by-st-paul-police-dog-searching-for-male-suspect/

~~~

So it's safe for me to call for help if I see a problem, then.

Define "safe."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Justine_Damond

~~~

What if I'm minding my own business?

I'm afraid to ask, but if a child were lost, you wouldn't shoot them, would you?

The child? No.

https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865673713/Judge-rules-against-man-whose-dog-was-shot-and-killed-by-police-during-search-for-toddler.html

~~~

So children are safe during procedural processes?

Um...well...

https://ilwd4cr.home.blog/2019/08/09/expired-foid-card-leads-to-child-being-accidentally-shot-by-police-during-raid/?fbclid=IwAR21fqxn4t8ptRu6KpLniHpAGsKK1ELW1LPxQ3g2IxeZ-GNEzjH1q20YyXk

~~~

So it would actually be best if I were naked, then?

Why would that matter?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Anthony_Hill

~~~

What if I meet you off duty? Say at a social function for pets?

I'll probably shoot your dog.

http://www.wmcactionnews5.com/story/37122662/off-duty-officer-shoots-dog-at-shelby-farms-park 

~~~

You have really good aim with dogs. Sheesh.

Usually, but not always.

https://reason.com/2019/07/16/court-rules-police-officer-who-shot-10-year-old-is-protected-by-qualified-immunity/?fbclid=IwAR3C_k6btxlUJujsSiv0x-IgzCMo57xXipy2uZZ3vpmrQo6CqNqPn45Z6FI

~~~

What if a small girl is chasing her puppy?

We'll teach her some manners.

http://tribunist.com/news/texas-deputy-loses-job-after-he-allegedly-beat-up-a-12-year-old-girl-in-a-crowded-restaurant-video/ 

~~~

What about other social events?

That depends on if you accept our offer of a drink.

https://www.theblaze.com/news/2013/10/15/caught-on-video-off-duty-deputy-attempts-to-arrest-soldier-at-restaurant-but-it-was-the-cop-who-went-to-jail 

~~~

What kind of training do you have for this job?

The best training in the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzHEOSyMqug

~~~

That's rare, though, right? I shouldn't be in danger.

Probably not.  But accidents happen.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/14/raid-of-the-day-eurie-sta_n_3273127.html

~~~

I'd like to observe this training for myself, to see just what's involved.

You might not wanna do that.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/11/us/woman-is-accidentally-killed-by-police-officer-playing-bad-guy-at-training-academy-in-florida.html

~~~

If there's a camera rolling and you know it's being filmed, you'll use discretion, yes? You won't empty your guns at a running bad guy and hit the cameraman?

Who cares? There's nothing wrong with that.  The judge concurs.

~~~

https://apnews.com/4f818508e9a5453cb897eed34a896c6d?fbclid=IwAR1VS02SAu0mwO1MyQadwjNAMVMFXhF_Dq_rQeuX1mgNqKvRZko3doyXXpQ  

Right, but it's not policy to roll up and blow people away, is it?

Well....about that....

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/09/13/police-officer-fired-for-not-shooting-man-who-had-unloaded-gun.html

~~~

So if I see you roll up to get someone, what should I do?

Duck.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/08/25/nypd-shooting-bystander-victims-hit-by-police-gunfire.html

~~~

If I'm detained, should I come quietly?

Quiet, screaming, actually, it doesn't matter if you come, as long as we do.

https://nypost.com/2017/12/08/woman-claims-nypd-detectives-discussed-taking-turns-raping-her/

~~~

Do I have right to remain silent?

That depends. Do you like rough sex?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abner_Louima