Thread by @0ddette

the architecture of the police state:

Escalation is incentivized via the overtime pay system and the 1033 program which provides military equipment used in war zones to departments . The battle you show up for will be the one which occurs , it is predetermined to chaos (Cont.)

Due to a stipulation in the 1033 program , equipment must be used within 1 year . Which encourages departments to aggressively deploy and use escalation of force even if not prudent . This is a driving force behind SWAT phenomenon and no-knock raids which kill people (Cont.)

The militarization of police forces coupled with the strength of police unions contributes the abuses of civilians as policing is psychologically reinforced as a military operation. Officers who hurt & kill are doing so in “the heat of battle “ which the unions forgive. (Cont.)

Creating an untenable situation where both the occupying police forces & the civilians they are tasked to serve and protect feel they are “under siege”.
And the “forever war” is recycled. Cold War, to Drug War, to War on Terror, to War on the People because War is Peace. (Cont.)

Officers who speak out about abuse and corruption are punished & pushed out of "the fold", while police unions close rank around those who are charged.
The lawsuits are paid out by taxpayers & divert funds from schools & community maintenance -which contributes to poverty cycles.

When these factors lead to protests- it is the same officers who make time and a half, MRAPs from Afghanistan that get rolled out and used by the “1 year date”, defense contractors pleased they can convince the gov’t to make another large order bc the equipment can be “recycled”