The Killing of Allen Kephart: How the Police Lost the Trust of a Law-and-Order Town
by Reason TVOn May 11, 43-year old Allen Kephart died after being tased multiple times by three San Bernardino, California sheriff’s deputies during a routine traffic stop.
Kephart, a quiet and well-liked member of the tight-knit mountain community around Lake Arrowhead, allegedly ran a stop sign and became “combative” during the stop.
But local residents say this claim is wildly out of character for Kephart, who had no police record and no history of aggressive behavior or even temper. Kephart’s death has galvanized the local community around a problem they say is getting worse: aggressive policing and the souring of relations between civilians and local law enforcement.
While an FBI review of Kephart’s death proceeds, the people of Lake Arrowhead are demanding a change in the climate of fear that has grown up in this quiet rural community. Whatever the final outcome of that investigation, the case of Allen Kephart is a case study in how law enforcement can lose the support even of citizens who believe strongly in law and order.
Producers: Tim cavanaugh and Paul Detrick. Camera and Editing: Paul Detrick and Alex Manning
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137 Comments
I wouldn't mind it if these cops were using these techniques on the "flash mobs" popping up all over the country. But apparently they don't "like the odds" when it comes to mob control.
This is exactly the situation that illustrates the stupidity of the Indiana Supreme Court's 4th Amendment Jurisprudence–I know it didn't happen there, but this story is just too eerily on point. This is just on more sign of America's descent into a despotic police state.
Here we ago again.
My least favorite topic.
One that always enrages me.
"aggressive policing and the souring of relations between civilians and local law enforcement."
Yep.
Call me sour, to say the least.
Whether it is this, or a month ago when High Sheriff Dupniks Nazified SWAT Team executed the young Marine, or six months ago back in the winter, when the policeman brutalized the special needs child on the short bus.
These topics send me off on a tangent quicker than Bertha Lewis, trolling for votes.
I ride a pretty fine line when it comes to this topic.
I have a son in Federal Law enforcement, and other family members in law enforcement. Needless to say, we don't talk about my views, during family get togethers.
Yep.
I will respect police.
To a point, and only to a point.
They are not the supreme authority, or arbiters of justice.
People had better wake up to one cold hard fact.
Police do NOT prevent crime.
Police file police reports, after the crime has been committed, and always after the fact.
Well, but the police stopped the gang of black teenager thugs which terrorized a small town recently (forgot the name) shouting "Kill the whiteys!!!"… Oops… wait… sorry… the police did nothing! They only told to the whiteys to stay locked in their houses…
I think that law enforcement at every level in this country has been given the green light to intimidate and brutalize people. The constitution is about as respected by the authorities as a used piece of toilet paper. Before the nazi war machine kicked into action, the thuggish brown shirts made sure the German people were fearful and compliant.
Police, and Politicians have one thing in common.
Their greatest fear, is a well armed citizenry.
I have a few ex-deputy sheriffs as friends, and they don't care for "the current bunch in there" any more than I do; it's no longer about service, it's about being able to push people around.
Can't become a cop? The TSA wants YOU!
Police are killing citizens left and right with these so call non-lethal weapons. These "toys" should be taken from them if they don't learn to be responsible with them.
For the most part, flash mobs are pretty peaceful.
And they look fun!
I always cringe when I see 6 cops jump on one guy who has already given up. I was an MP in the Military and we were always taught to use the escalation of force (the least amount of force necessary to stop someone) when dealing with suspects. And if we didn't we could be brought up on charges. I don't claim to know civilian law as well as I knew the UCMJ. But I'm sure they must have something like the escalation of force and just choose to ignore it. In my opinion it comes down to ill trained cops who are scared of their own Shadow. With that being said I would also like to say I'm sure all cops are not this way. But it does seem to be a growing problem…. union goons with an elitist attitude.
Sounds like the sheriff deputies don't have enough to do.
That is precisely where I stand also, Cowboy. I have numerous friends of long acquaintance in law enforcement at various levels. The honest ones will tell you exactly what you posted. In fact, to a one, they will also tell you that they thank God we have an armed populace.
None work in Chicago and one, a State Trooper, makes sure he goes to confession, whenever he has to do temporary duty there. Some of the people they put, or go into law enforcement, have no business there.
My opinion is a badge and a gun is not exactly a license to kill, in the 007 sense.
But it is a learner's permit.
Where I live, that would be quelled very quickly…….
…long before the Cops showed up.
It probably would never get to that point, in the first place.
What is the reference? I'd like to check this out …
I believe the current police have lost the art of being able to talk someone down before they reach for that taser.
Not the ones I know Cowboy.
They actually like it very much. Then again, none are Federal Level and all of them despise BATF.
EdSki, these are the types of "flash mobs" I'm talking about. (No, not all "flash mobs") But all of these stories are listed on Drudge right now:
Mob in Peoria shoots fireworks at police, firefighters…
MAYHEM IN MOBILE: 300+ fight on street corner, man shot in face…
13 stabbed, shot in Boston in just 5 hours…
CHICAGOLAND: 5 Dead, 23 Hurt Over Violent Holiday Weekend…
4-Year-Old Boy Shot While Watching Baltimore Fireworks…
2 Shot During Massive Brawl Outside Atlantic City Casino…
Dozens of teens loot store, then attack passersby…
Some officers just know their limitations and taser a middle-aged man three times.
Get a Personal Camera that is Purposely Designed for Concealment
Get One with Direct Uplink, So files are stored elsewhere if it is confiscated.
Get One with Remote Access so files can be deleted after confiscation
Wear it at all times
There are some ' toys ' police do not like … at all
There's a huge difference between flash mobs, regular mobs, rioters, gangs of that sort.
The vast majority of flash mobs are little more than amateur performance art.
What happens when wanna-be bullies, thugs and goons apply for jobs on the police department and get hired?
When are police and their civilian groupies going to quit saying that tasers are not lethal weapons?
Why do we now make a distinction between police and civilians? Police are not military, they are civilian. They are not our superiors, masters, conquerors or occupiers; they are our civilian peers and employees. They are obligated to obey the laws of the community and respect the rights of every other person, just like the rest of us.
There is a difference between an Officer of the Peace and a police officer. The former respects his or her fellow citizens, and does all that he or she can to pursue justice and keep our society peaceful and safe. The role of the latter is to inflict harm on those who fail to comply with the whims and edicts of the political establishment.
it's about being able to push people around.
Exactly. Just like the current occupier of the People's house.
They do get off on it.
NAUSEATING.
Law abiding community fears the police.
Are we living in a totalitarian state?
If this is what police have come to, i'd rather see a state of anarchy.
Disarm these police thugs now!
The problem is that they need to practice the same restraint with tazers as they do with their guns. Watch any of the cops shows and its the first thing officers draw at ANY sign of resistance. The assumption is that the use of the tazer is non-lethal and probably would have been if these officers had used disciplined methods of subduing a combative individual.
"Tonight, around 11 p.m., a group of at least 60-70 African American youth marched down one of the side streets (W. Thrush) to the 4 lane main drag (Sheridan). They were yelling threats to white residents. Things such as we need to kill alll the white people around here. They were physically intimidating anyone calling for help from the police. They were surrounding cars. Cars on the main drag had to slam on their brakes to either avoid the youth blocking not only all four lanes, but a large section of the side street as well. fights were breaking out among them. They were rushing residents who looked out their doors, going on to porches, yelling threats to people calling the police for help"
Altamont Park Neighborhood
Peoria, IL
Just do a Google search ( Altamont Park Neighborhood gang ) ……proud and plentiful 0bumble supporters.
Out of control law enforcement. An ever increasing problem with only one solution.
4-Year-Old Boy Shot While Watching Baltimore Fireworks…
W……….T…………F………
*#&&&%%$&#%&*
Some people live a life of "Make Believe". Like the woman who threw acid in her own face, or the ATF agents who assaulted Waco and Ruby Ridge. They are looking for a make believe drama to unfold, and if their desire for attention peaks at the wrong time, when you are a convenient prop for their drama to unfold, you will become "the terrorist". Like little boys playing Cowboys and Indians. (only you always have to play the Indian) Women with "Munchasen Syndrome by Proxy" have this same mental illness. The victim in this case might have pointed out to the cops that he knew what their illness was, and he wouldn't play their make-believe role in their game, and the truth hurt so they freaked out.
The "vast majority" are youths or gang members banding together for looting or criminal activity that could otherwise be prevented by police or an armed clerk. Don't confuse "flash mob" with "flash dance" just because the MSM never reports on flash mobs or gang violence, "flash dance" happens once a blue moon at gay pride parades were the cameras are.
I am not in trouble with the law but I must say that my level of comfort with them is not what it should be.
I much more respect a soldier than a police officer. I much more respect a fireman than a police officer. I much more respect waitstaff than I respect a police officer. I much more respect a single parent busting their asses for their children than I respect a police officer.
It may be a sad thing to say but recently it has been towards those laws, the people entrusted to create and enforce them, whom I have the most distrust.
Police are the foot soldiers of tyranny.
It's about time we put these SERVANTS in their proper place! Do all you can to curtail any funding of police activity. Keep it small and in control.
When I taught Criminal Justice, I pointed out to the officers in the class, as well as the officer wanna-bes, that one thing police MUST guard against constantly is developing a "them vs us" mentality about the community at large. They do this sometimes because their only contacts with other non-police citizens tend to be under negative circumstances–either arresting them or taking a report from them about something bad that's happened to them. As a consequence, they (police officers) tend to socialize only with other cops–even off duty–and be suspicious of everyone else as a potential (or real) burglar. The attitude can be ameliorated somewhat by proper training, but the agency MUST be on the lookout for it constantly or it'll slip their attention. What's left is over-officiousness, rudeness, what I call the "shootout-on-Main-Street-at-high-noon" braggadocio, or even the "Make-My-Day" arrogance.
The problem I have is with police is the same problem I have with the TSA. You're not allowed to profile gang members, thugs or repeat offenders, therefore you must nightstick and taser octogenarians and honor students as if they were members of MS-13. At some point in the PC police state transition the police can no longer fall back on proceedure, and become accountable for their actions. It doesn't help that they have been lowering enterance fitness and exam requirements to allow in more diversity hires that do not make the cut across the country either.
I believe they have no desire to talk someone down. In too many cases they seem to resort to brutality before their suspect has a chance to peacefully comply.
Even here in Maine I can give you at least twelve instances of murder by police, like a woman sitting at her kitchen table drinking with a rifle on the table shot through a window, a man hancuffed then chocked to death, a woman with a flashlight who was shot because she refused to put it down, a woman shot with a pellet gun in her hand, a man in a wheelchair with a kitchen knife, a teenager with a hunting knife shot on his doorstep with his parents watching.etc., etc., I had breakfast every morning at a diiner across the street from the police station and used to watch them get ready for work wearing Jack Boots, carrying Assault Rifles Shotguns all looking like a Seals Assault Group in a city of less then 15,000, they have never solved the only four murders in the past ten years.
Not all.
Right! Too bad for them that, MOST of this country is NOW armed!!
One of the big problems is a lot of Police Stations will not hire Police from anywhere in the area, they like the big City Cops that treat the Citizens like crap, we have one that will ticket you for three miles over the speed limit, he refuses to carry warning tickets.
No.
Not all.
But sadly, most.
"…….they have never solved the only four murders in the past ten years. "
Of course they haven't solved them.
Probably the reason being, is they spend all their time at the local doughnut shop, looking for evidence under "Power Rings".
Years ago it was easy to get a job on your local police force if you were a prior Army M.P. today they will not hire you because you're from the area, they are affraid you will give a decent person a break for something petty.
Here's the key. The peaceful ones seldom make it past the local news. You have to dig for them on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k
In our City there is only one decent Cop on the force and he is prior Army M.P.
It's called "cops and creeps."
Just curious, I know you have a lot of logic (I give you thumbs up even before I read your post) but are you really a Cowboy? I wanted to be one when I was a kid.
I think most former MP's would make good cops. I was a watch commander for a patrol section my last year in. And I had a very good crew. We all did our best to help our shipmates and stop problems before they started. I did have one guy for my first few months who didn't know how to talk to people and caused more problems then he stopped (he was a 140lb weakling who's mouth would try to cash checks his ass couldn't cover). I put him in dispatch… I think thats the root of the problem most cops nowadays consider themselves to be better or above the people they are serving… sad but true. But as I said before I know their not all this way but I think more and more are today then ever before.
Yeah… not really. EdSki is right on this. What you're describing are riots or just mobs. Do a youtube search for improveverywhere… those are flash mobs. It's a group of people that go to the same place and do some random act that is not destructive and can be quite fun.
I the whole history of the State of Maine there has never been a robbery in any Doughnut Shop.
Kephart’s death has galvanized the local community around a problem they say is getting worse: aggressive policing and the souring of relations between civilians and local law enforcement.
Of course forgetting that the police are also "civilians" adds to the "us-vs-them" mentality on both sides.
As others have said, many of us have a love/hate relationship with the police. As "rule of law" kind of people, we respect that police are part of that "rule of law" – they go after the bad guys, arrest them, and bring them in to face justice.
But as a group that is naturally distrustful of government, we also see that there is a fine line that the police walk between "law and order" and tyranny.
Perhaps what we need is a kind of community intervention where the 2 sides can get together and talk. Perhaps even more beat cops that actually WALK around (where possible) the neighborhood and get to know their neighbors rather than being in a car, separated out from the community.
And perhaps we need to check with their unions and make sure that everything is kosher in that department. Why do cops need "unions" anyway. I would assume that most of us would want our police to be paid a decent wage for the dangerous work they do and we would be happy to do it if our local and county and state governments were taxing us to death on other things that they shouldn't have their fingers in. Plus, doesn't it create that Thin Blue Line that also leads to distrust?
And despite the respect they might garner, including firefighters, perhaps everybody, regardless of career should be paying into their own pensions rather than having the taxpayers burdened with that.
Speaking of, the Pima County GOP has decided to oust their Chairman for daring to question the murder of said marine: http://www.theagitator.com/2011/07/05/pima-county...
What a despicable bunch of cowardly, so-called Republicans, that they would let their knee-jerk subservience to "law and order" blind them to state sanctioned violations of our most fundamental rights to life, liberty and property.
No more force than is necessary. My very first lesson from my sensei. Later that was reinforced in the various places that I have had the privilege to have trained. Benning being one of them.
Unfortunately, most cops are scared to death all the time. They think that they are making themselves safer by responding in the way they did with the situation represented here. Most cops believe everyone they pull over is a dangerous psychopath first and a good citizen never. Their training today reflects this attitude and situations like these WILL become more common.
Nope That one doesn't meet the light of day. When you put on a badge and you swear an oath to protect and serve the CITIZENS of your city, you're no longer a civilian. You are a public servant and a member of a paramilitary organization called the police. As a sworn member of the Police force, you are expected to conduct yourself in a honorable and above reproach manner when PROTECTING and SERVING the people.
This is also California where cuts have been made to budgets. Could be police are angry about that. Could be they are being told to write more tickets to collect more money. In California when the people try to curb government spending the government seldom cuts waste, but always threatens to cut necessary services and the state parks. That move has always seemed like they are deliberately trying to punish citizens. The government unions are very powerful in Ca and many people wonder if they will retaliate against the people.
In California, I am only respectful to the pollce when they respect me. I give them the benefit of the doubt until they prove me wrong, then watch out. Other than that, it's call my attorney time with the camera rolling or in a worst case scenario, deadly force is met with deadly force. It hasn't gotten that bad yet, but I live in L.A. where they shoot first and then read you your rights so I kinda expect the worse to insure I live to see another day. San Bernadino Sherriff deputies are the very worse of the worse as they truly have an 'us against the azzholes' mentality.' If you're not a member of the force, you're an azzhole if we stop you', probably is their unofficial motto.
I agree Chris its a total lack of training. When you have trained to use proper procedures you will almost always be safe. I can't count how many times I've seen cops pull someone over and not push on the rear trunk on the way by. Its a simple thing but it could save their life someday (just an example) I also think most cops are out of shape and have bad habits when dealing with the public. And we both know bad habits are forming and if you have them you will eventually be hurt or get someone else hurt. There will always be nut jobs in the world but cops have no right to treat everyone as one just in case they might be. 98% percent of the time if you treat people with respect they will return the respect.
These incidents are becoming more frequent all the time. It is part and parcel of the statist agenda to control people's liberties and freedoms. Guy runs a stop sign and gets killed for it? This is Obama's policies in effect, limit individual freedom, augment Govt State control. TSA, local cops, school teachers, … the left is violent.
Time for a Revolution. Time to get the black booted thugs off our necks…
This is no surprise to those of us who listen to alternative media – been going on a LONG time. This, the TSA, most things going wrong are all part of the scheme to control the American people more and more. Listen to Alex Jones or others in the alternative media to understand it all.
You folks who mindlessly support police are the same ones who mindlessly support our outrageous wars. How many encounters do foreigners have with our troops that are worse than this? And then you pretend like it is not our fault we are hated. There is a great analogy between this outrage and what others face….but they are faceless to most of you so you are kept in the dark.
@ladykrystyna – you've got that straight. Why do cops need "unions" anyway? I'm old enough to remember when the police were to be respected because their mission was "To Protect and to Serve." One cop at a time, we need to remind them of their oaths of office. Handy resource is http://oathkeepers.org/oath/. Remember, about 6% of the people supported the Declaration of Independence and look at what it accomplished. We just need a few cops who care more about their integrity than their paycheck and we can stop this. God willing and the creek don't rise.
How dare he not pull over where there IS NO SHOULDER according to the video…right?
The initial Policeman probably misinterpreted Kephart's actions………(thought he was running………..ie chase scenario)……..while Kephart was just finding a safe place to pull over……….
You run or try to escape……..The Police will whip your arse…….(it's common knowledge/procedure).
I was a policeman in a prior life……and to this day when I get stopped it's "Yes, Sir" and "No, Sir"….until I can get released….
Know your rights……
but if a Policeman violates your rights…….
take it to the Courts……….because you're definitely going to lose in the "Policeman's roadside court."
What is this coolaid day on Biggovernment? A mob is a group of persons stimulating one another to excitement and losing ordinary rational control over their activity no matter how you qualify it. I don't care what some hippster tool wants to call an organized, highly over choreographed meeting of his glee club or dance troop. I am overly tired of throwing out the English dictionary for every fad or progressive cause that needs a euphemism or a cool sounding name.
I'd rather we purge the police ranks of the goons and thugs unfit to wear the badge first. The armed forces do it every day; they call it courts-martial and a long stay in the brig.
The one procedure that everyone should be talking about that was described in this video is the camera confiscations. The systematic deletions of pictures or outright confiscations. This has gone from a slight agitation for cops in the past to them seizing them from people that have done no wrong. I think there was a story in New Jersy about a woman videotaping cops arresting someone from her own front porch. I read the story and found that the womans politicks i would not agree with. But she still has a right to record what goes on outside in her neihborhood!
I know there are good moral cops but there is a problem we are all going to have to face. If the government says jellybeans are against the law the police will enforce it. Some with this much zeal! I don't believe it would matter to them if it was voted on or just annouced aloud by some powerful politician. the constitution may not mean anything to some police officers. Just look at the ruling in indiana for example. I'm not speaking about alll officers. but there may be some in key positions that believe in few limits.
This story coupled with the "no knock raids" that were wrote about on. this site. (http://biggovernment.com/reasontv/2011/06/19/no-knock-raid-a-song-about-the-drug-wars-deadliest-tactic/) Should have us looking into aggessive policing doctrine and how it is used in our communuties. We should rail against this just like we rail against socialisim. Eventually the two may become allies.
"There is a difference between an Officer of the Peace and a police officer. The former respects his or her fellow citizens, and does all that he or she can to pursue justice and keep our society peaceful and safe. The role of the latter is to inflict harm on those who fail to comply with the whims and edicts of the political establishment."
This is the distinction I've been looking for.
Just as the Tuscon SWAT team (Political COPS/ assassins) murdered the Marine a few months back, nothing was done to the killers, investigations non-existent or botched, the matter completely swept "under the rug".
(http://biggovernment.com/reasontv/2011/06/19/no-knock-raid-a-song-about-the-drug-wars-deadliest-tactic/)
This is how they think they will control US. One at a time, if need be.
Most will never challenge them ( political COPS) or stray off the path, so as not to come to their attention for the death sentence or re-education.
Ann
When to local COPS are not on the side of the law-abiding citizen, then there is ill-will and anarchy brewing just below the surface.
.Like the Hippo said below, the local political COPS are the foot soldiers of tyranny..
That's because the police are taught the taser is the in the same force continuum as laying your hands on someone. A night stick has a higher continuum than a taser, which is ridiculous. Until people continue to express their outrage at the common and repeated use of a taser so quick by the police, with resulting lawsuits, will this practice be changed.
Just like other special interest lobbyists, the taser manufacturers have theirs and have pulled the wool over most chief law enforcement officers and legislatures.
The protect and serve on their cars means to protect and serve their Master Obama not us. Non lethal? What ever happened to the Gestapo Swat that shot that Marine 60 times in his house. We better start organizing people or they will just come in gangs like that and take us out one at a time.
Perfectly stated…
It seems that all government entities that are in a position of "enforcing the law" use intimidation as a main tool to force compliance as they see it. Police, with their weapons, might be the worst threat because if they don't like the way a person responds they can injure or kill.
I've had experience with California Department of Health and Cal-OSHA and thank God they are not armed or I'd have been shot a few times. They also are very intimidating and seem to hire people who could never get a job in the private sector…seem to have to prove a point. I never would have hired any of their nurses…for sure!
Actually, "flash dance" was a type of Jazz dancing.
"Flashdance" was a movie.
"Flashing" while "dancing" is just gyrating while exposing yourself.
Flash mobs are just people having a goof by taking advantage of cell phones and social media sites, and you should not confuse them with general mobs and gangs as EdSki suggests.
This is outrageous! These bored two bit cops who see the cops in the big city getting to throw people around (in most cases appropriately); and they want so of the action.
Why was he thrown to the ground in the first place? And tazing; just way way over the top! These cops should be charged with involuntary man slaughter and do the max in prison; not some work farm.
Hitler succeeded by putting dweebs into positions where they could assert power. Those men wanted to "prove' that they could control people and wanted POWER. Only the citizen can stop this. Attend your local town meetings. Make yourself known to your town board. YOU can make a difference at the local level, and successful change starts at the roots of the nation, EACH INDIVIDUAL. Thanks reminding me of my duties as a citizen. God bless America!
Funny … I Scan Lots and Lots of Headlines EVERY Day and somehow, according to MSNBC
Altamont Park Mob Action — Makes — National — Headlines —
BACK on 27 JUNE … !!!
" Media Blackout " comes to mind
( Thanks for the reference, btw. I never doubted your posting! ( see above ))
Welcome to the "Police State"….Requiring revenue!!! It seems by the video he passed a wide spot in the road to stop, preferring a populated area to pull over….Where at least his (Official) MURDER was documented!!!
I should be shocked by this article, but I am not. Why? I live in the Inland Empire area of Southern California which includes the Riverside/San Bernadino area. San Bernadino, the city and county, are the corrupt arm pit of the Inland Empire.
Shades of A Clockwork Orange
Yes.
I really am.
I was born on a ranch, and that is about all I will ever be.
See?
What'd I tell you?
It just goes to prove, they are well guarded.
"Perhaps what we need is a kind of community intervention where the 2 sides can get together and talk. "
Lets convene a Beer Summit, with an unlimited open bar, and have a free bobbing for doughnuts contest. Give out door prizes for the largest uniform, and the shiniest jack-boots.
"Why do cops need "unions" anyway."
To keep them from going to the Penitentiary and from being sodomized, when they are found guilty for executing innocent civilians.
The Police used to have regulations about height and weight. They wanted cops to be physically large men who would make you think twice about crossing. By allowing smaller males and females to be police officers, we are all endangered, because these people have no alternative but to escalate with violence force and weapons.
I would like to see a study regarding police brutality and fatal shootings that correlates the officers physical statistics to see if smaller police officers correlate to violence against citizenry.
Uh…no. The police should never be considered a paramilitary organization. Try a law enforcement agency.
If I were the police, particularly the San Bernardino Police, I would take notice of the fact that approximately 11 hours ago, "The Killing of Allen Kephart" has made the blogs on Forbes offered by E.D. Kain from American Times. Now if this story can make it into Forbes, maybe this story has some legs. Been to Lake Arrowhead a few times, beautiful country, locals were great. If this community has turned against the police force, something is seriously amiss and the cops are in denial. Hmmmm, it''s be interesting to see how this one shakes out. I'll bet the cops loose this one.
You are closer to the truth, with what you wrote, than you realize.
Reason #10347 why I left the GOP more than a decade ago.
"…that is about all I will ever be." when you achieve all you want, that is considered true wealth. The vast majority doesn't know which side to mount and couldn't walk through a corral without making apple sauce. It isn't for me, but I more than respect your lifestyle.
LOL! You're my favorite cynic.
LOL!
Well.
I don't think you are a cynic, yet.
But you are truly are one of my favorite people here.
Narcissists and borderlines are all about projecting a hologram of who they want to be. And it is often Rambo for men. If you pop their little make believe bubble, the hologram they are trying to project to fool everybody, then it is the same to them as if you murdered their actual self. And they will react explosively to your words as if you had just tried to stab them in the heart. Tiger Woods, Arnold, and Congressman Weiner got through the popped hologram ok, but a hard core narcissist, a Rambo wannabe needs to force others to play a supporting role to boost his illusions of his heroism. Women who falsely calim rape or acid attacks or who poisin their own children in order to play the nurse (munchausen) are the same way.
Aw, you are so sweet.
I love your posts as well. Always look forward to them. 
Not 100% cynic right now, no. But I am quite disillusioned with things. Neither party is representing the people, nor do they have the best interests of the Republic at heart. There is much discontent.
And if the debt ceiling thing gets lost because of the GOP, I fear that will be the straw that broke the camel's back. That is why I have been pushing the idea of a 2-prong approach.
1. Infiltrating the GOP at the local and state levels. And I mean really getting in there. We have got to get rid of the Progs and elitists.
2. Prepare a New Declaration with grievances and demands and be prepared for peaceful protests and civil disobedience until our demands are met.
It's time to get serious.
I am serious.
Sadly, it will take a Reichstag moment, to cause everyone to draw up short and pay attention.
Fish rots from the head. The pitting one group of Americans against another to destabilize the system is classic Cloward Pliven Strategy. It seems to be working doesn't it. Witness the increasing militarization of local police departments. Somewhere, some how -likely through the promises of vast sums of money and cool gadgetry- the local LEO have bought the line that if they don't have a swat team the department is somehow second class; less than complete. Yeah, its cool to have an armored vehicle, breaching charges, headsets, and full-auto weapons but is the public really well served? Is public health and safety best protected by para-military tactics? I can see LA or Houston or even DC has needing the capabilities. But Anchorage? Lexington? I think not. On average citizens are pro-law enforcement but going full on confrontational – taser first ask questions later- is not a long term strategy for community based law enforcement. Unless of course your community is Beirut or a Soviet Client State. If the LOE are as bright and professional as they claim surely they can out think and out wit your average criminal. But maybe it really isn't about law enforcement. Fish rots from the head.
God bless ya.
"Only a fool argues with a skunk, a mule, or a cook" – Will Rogers
I am, too.
And yes, I think you are correct. Not enough people are sufficiently awake, even now.
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