Ferguson, MO

[OANST]

We'll see, man. I hope there is a change, but I don't have a lot of hope left honestly.

Why? Saying that means that you are basically ignoring the enormous strides made already, and how they came about. My assertions are based on how things actually work. Yours seem to be because you're sad.

[HOMINIX]

Nah, that's just UKIP. They've got about as much mainstream credibility as the Tea Party.

That's what I like to hear

[STM]

@MM- UKIP is the 3rd biggest party in the UK now though to be fair. But then they are partially a vote of anger against the traditional big three.

[OANST]

The Tea Party have an unfortunate amount of clout.

[STM]

So do UKIP, and the moment you underestimate a group like that you'll have them in power.

[HOMINIX]

Why? Saying that means that you are basically ignoring the enormous strides made already, and how they came about. My assertions are based on how things actually work. Yours seem to be because you're sad.

No one in this thread is ignoring the enormous strides we've made. There has been a lot of social change in the United States in the past century, but there hasn't been much change in law enforcement accepting full responsibility for their actions, let alone facing the same consequences that civilians face for the same crime.

Also, a correction to one of my earlier posts, Michael Brown has no criminal background.

[OANST]

It is true that law enforcement get off clean in a lot of situations like this, but that usually builds until law enforcement gets a major smackdown, and has to make changes. The outrage surrounding the Trayvon Martin case, combined with how extraordinarily egregious this last shooting was leads me to believe that we will see a conviction. Events like this are pretty cyclical, and you can usually tell when public sentiment is finally being swayed to the side of the wronged citizen. I can't say anything for sure, not being a wizard and all, but I would be very surprised to see the officer walk free from this one.

[Slog Bait]

If somehow the officer managed to walk free, I can see complete mayhem ensuing.

[HOMINIX]

If somehow the officer managed to walk free, I can see complete mayhem ensuing.

Whatever the outcome, the officer is in some danger once the public finds out his identity. The officer is in even more danger if he ends up serving time in prison. Prisoners aren't very fond of police officers... especially ones who shoot and kill unarmed 18 year olds.

[Slog Bait]

More danger? I'd say equal. With everything that's happened, I'd assume one way or another he's likely going to walk out of this dead, be it literally or figuratively.

[OANST]

Whatever the outcome, the officer is in some danger once the public finds out his identity. The officer is in even more danger if he ends up serving time in prison. Prisoners aren't very fond of police officers... especially ones who shoot and kill unarmed 18 year olds.

They don't put ex police officers in with the general population in prisons.

[Slog Bait]

Relevant link

[HOMINIX]

They don't put ex police officers in with the general population in prisons.

They are offered protective custody, which allows them 23 hours in their cell, and 1 hour in the showers and on the yard. There isn't some "cop only" prison or specified zones for convicted cops.

[OANST]

They are offered protective custody, which allows them 23 hours in their cell, and 1 hour in the showers and on the yard. There isn't some "cop only" prison or specified zones for convicted cops.

I didn't say there was. However, a lot of cops will end up in lighter security prisons to avoid having them in the same prison as the people most likely to kill them.

I know this because that's what they did with my dad.

[Slog Bait]

Relevant video

[STM]

Fucking pathetic.

How stupid do they think people are.

[Havoc]

Where's the freedom of speech in the Leader of the Free World?

The USA will get torn apart by civil war within the next 20 years because shit like this is going to happen more and more. And luckily the constitution secures your right to start a civil war (or, well, force the government to step down at gun point, which comes down to the same thing at this point).

Good luck with that.

[STM]

Can we put a wager on your Civil War hypothesis?

[Slog Bait]

I'm waiting for the next civil war tbh because I know it's going to happen in my lifetime

[STM]

I will seriously put money on this guys.

[HOMINIX]

Our law enforcement is so militarized that the citizens' only hope of ever overthrowing a corrupt government would be if the law enforcement is on the side of the civilians, and not on the side of a future oppressor.

[OANST]

Sometimes people say stupid things. Sometimes people band together, and join with Havoc to say really stupid things.

[Varrok]

It's all Havoc's fault. Wonderful.

[HOMINIX]

My point is, in this moment in time, there's very little chance of success in a civilian population trying to overthrow the US government by force. The protesters in Ferguson were up against these fuckers, and they weren't intent of toppling the federal government. I can only imagine what forces rebels would be met with when protesters in Ferguson were met with scenes like this:

[OANST]

Well, for one thing, that's a picture of the police line set up outside their headquarters where protesters were trying to break in, using bricks, and other weapons. Would you prefer they protected themselves with cotton balls, while wearing pink nighties?

[HOMINIX]

To be fair, that's what the police force looked like on Florissant responding to protesters too. No one's saying they shouldn't protect themselves, but the situation in Ferguson is an insignificant little speck compared to a potential nationwide revolt. If this is how they respond to protesters in Ferguson, how would they respond to rebels?

On the bright side, I think the presence of the media would discourage martial law as a decision.

[STM]

Are we actually entertaining a discussion about the feasibility of an American civil war? If you think an underclass is going to spark a revolution you need to read some history. Revolution is instigated by the middle class and no American Joe Bloggs is going to give up his suburban utopia to campaign for national freedom.

[HOMINIX]

My point is that even if they wanted to, they wouldn't be able to. We're outgunned and ill equipped.

[OANST]

No. We aren't. A couple of people said some things that are nonsense, and I assume the rest of us just wrote it off as that. I hope.

[HOMINIX]

To be clear, I'm not arguing that there should be a revolt, or that it would happen. I'm saying that a hypothetical rebellion would be quelled in a snap.