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Comment by phpisthebest | Hacker News Reader

In the US we need to recognize what the police has become first. An unconstitutional Paramilitary organization that has grown far far far beyond the remit of a peace keeping professional organization charged with keeping an ordered society

This is primarily a result of the War on Drugs, and expanded with the War on Terror. War's are fought by a military, not a police force.

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While I agree that the weapons, armor, and technology generally given to police is not appropriate (especially at small town levels, vs county sheriff, swat.. etc), trying to label them as a paramilitary organization is only going to result in eyes rolling. "Recognizing" them as such is probably not the right place to start, if you're serious in trying to convince a larger swath of the population they need to be fixed.

It is more than just the equipment that makes them paramilitary, many dept mirror their organization structure after that of a military, down to the ranks, and uniforms including Service ribbons...

I don't disagree with your premise, but if something like half the country doesn't agree that the cops are fundamentally flawed, labeling them effectively as an extremist group will only further entrench their stance that "you're crazy, we're right."

Edit: for example, I think that your other post with the five bullet points could hold up to reasonable scrutiny when presented to the pro-cop crowd, but would likely fall on deaf ears with them if you lead off with the paramilitary framing.

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