These abuses of power and authority are really very miniscule when compared to the abuses at the top.

The Bush Gang has been the most flagrant in that regard since Nixon's Paranoid Pack.

I assume that you elect your leaders because they present the sort of behavior that you wish to imitate.

And so it goes....

The abuse of authority is a very serious problem. The problem extends throughout the world and no society has totally abolished it. It remains one of the problems that we will have to address as we replace the corrupt society that we live in the U.S.

As far as the police go, it's not just a matter of corruption, which most police are, but the role they play in society. They operate at the bidding of the most corrupt layer of society, the ones that are above the law, the very wealthy few.

And the rot extends to the prison system where there is no attempt at any 'correction'. The prisons are often medieval dungeons of rape and torture. Too many of us unwittingly support such abuse, e.g. 'He should be real popular when he gets to the Iowa State Penitentiary.'

At least the prostitute was a female.

Homophobe.

BTW, this sort of thing is nothing new and there's no reason to think it's increased recently. Plenty of cops are getting taken to task for abuse of power every day, sometimes with pretty weak cause.

My favorite story about police excess comes from about a decade ago when a University of Texas campus cop pulled over star football player (and dedicated weed-head) Ricky Williams. When Williams arrogantly asked the cop "do you know who I am?" the cop responded "Do you know who I am? I'm GOD. Now get out of the car and put your hands behind your head."

So things haven't changed much.

Dave

moonraven: "I assume that you elect your leaders because they present the sort of behavior that you wish to imitate."

mhmm. i'd bet realist didn't vote for bush. what do you think?

dave: "Homophobe."

hmm. i think the statement you are reacting to is more offensive to women than it is to homosexuals. but, you just despise realist, don't you?

I think that YOU voted for Bush. (Assuming that you are old enough to vote.)

I know that I did NOT.

you think i voted for bush?

have you read anything i've written here?

of course not.

and if you're trying to imply that i'm immature with your little parenthetical jibe, well, i think everyone here would agree that the only immature thing i'm doing right now is even bothering to reply to you.

[Personal attack deleted]
You might be interested (if you don't already know) in: Radley Balko
It's not his primary focus but he loves to attack moments of "cop abuse."
[Personal attack deleted] but your article was spot on. The cops are militarizing themselves, cameras and seizures are producing piles of cop revenue, it's gone too far.
Great article, thank you!

"The Choirboys really care to do the right thing for their communities. It's the relatively few Fallen Angels who garner the headlines, such as..."

That comment is obviously disingenuous. If you're so respectful of the choirboys, why not write an article about them? Instead, you go on to list even more abuses of power.

And as for your description of China as "neocon", I just have to assume that was a typo.

I was a Chicago Cop, wrote about my experiences in a book called Brotherhood of Corruption. Corruption is appalling, disturbing, and expensive. It is the citizens of this country who have to pay for the multi-million dollar settlements when the dust settles before cop corruption or brutality cases go to court. Honestly, it is up to the general public to make a stink about this shit and how foul the stench really is. In Chicago, 5% of the force is deemed incorrigible, yet they stay on the force due to a tight brotherhood, inept disciplinary board and a protective mayor. It's been that way since Richie's daddy was the mayor. When are the people of Chicago gonna rise to the occasion and demand reform in the Police Department?