What's up with the cops these days?

In a free society the cops should never have the right to search you without cause, and then arrest you for refusing. This is grounds for a revolution.

The problem with revolution is that the resulting government is almost always worse. That was not true for the American Revolution, but that may be because the power that was overthrown was very much like an occupier, and we had an existing governmental structure already in place. Usually, like in the French revolution, if the existing government is overthrown, the initial leaders of the revolution are consumed by the groundswell of anger that is released, and more tyrannical and dictatorial elements within the revolution usurp the movement.

The problem with revolution is that the resulting government is almost always worse. That was not true for the American Revolution, but that may be because the power that was overthrown was very much like an occupier, and we had an existing governmental structure already in place. Usually, like in the French revolution, if the existing government is overthrown, the initial leaders of the revolution are consumed by the groundswell of anger that is released, and more tyrannical and dictatorial elements within the revolution usurp the movement.

So you are against over throwing tyranny?

The problem with revolution is that the resulting government is almost always worse. That was not true for the American Revolution, but that may be because the power that was overthrown was very much like an occupier, and we had an existing governmental structure already in place. Usually, like in the French revolution, if the existing government is overthrown, the initial leaders of the revolution are consumed by the groundswell of anger that is released, and more tyrannical and dictatorial elements within the revolution usurp the movement.

I know you qualified with "almost always," so this isn't really a dig at you, but South Africa says hello.

I don't think we fall under tyranny yet, and overthrowing one tyrannical leader has most often led to a harsher tyranny in place. Again the US was in kind of a perfect storm for having our revolution. A strong but distant occupier, who had an ongoing "real" war with their main enemy (France), and an existing local government structure that the populace generally supported, and gave time to establish itself.

So I think the "tyranny" needs to be far more than a warrantless ID check for a full blown revolution. That said, I am by no means supporting the nature of the checks, just saying that you need to understand the consequences before you cry revolt.

I know you qualified with "almost always," so this isn't really a dig at you, but South Africa says hello.
That's a good example against what I said:food-smil.

Speaking of Tyranny: Report: Harvard scholar's arrest avoidable - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_harvard_scholar_review)

Glad I could stir the pot Ha Ha Ha!

6 Completely Legal Ways The Cops Can Screw You | Cracked.com (http://www.cracked.com/article_18620_6-completely-legal-ways-cops-can-screw-you.html)

Steel you Identity
Arrest women for carry more then 2 condoms in parts of DC
Arrest you for filming them
Arrest you for being around alcohol in a bar (Texas)
Guess how fast youre going and give you a ticket
Steal your stuff

So these are NOT old fashion funny laws that are just on the books, most of these are new laws passed recently in varying degrees in different states. Read for details and stories of people who got screwed.

Im not sure what outrages me the most. I think steal your stuff, no filming, and arrest women for condoms are the most outrages, but theyre all pretty bad.

Contact your legislator.......

FOXNews.com - Police Arrest Man for Saying He Understood Conn. Warehouse Gunman (http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/08/06/police-man-arrested-conn-company-saying-understood-mindset-shooter-killed/)

The problem with revolution is that the resulting government is almost always worse. That was not true for the American Revolution, but that may be because the power that was overthrown was very much like an occupier, and we had an existing governmental structure already in place. Usually, like in the French revolution, if the existing government is overthrown, the initial leaders of the revolution are consumed by the groundswell of anger that is released, and more tyrannical and dictatorial elements within the revolution usurp the movement.

I agree. I used to be a big advocate of revolt, until I realized I had no good alternative. However, there comes a time where no good alternative is better than status quo -- it's pretty much the basis for Communist revolution. In any case, it's the *threat* of revolt which is most valuable -- not the action itself.