The ongoing political drama over the government shutdown has dominated the news headlines, but it has little impact on the realities of the American Police State. Despite the budget impasse, the police state apparatus continues to operate with impunity, violating the rights and liberties of the people.
The Police State Does Not Need a Budget to Function
The police state does not depend on the government’s funding to carry out its agenda. It has its own sources of revenue, such as civil asset forfeiture, fines, fees, and taxes. According to a report by the Institute for Justice, civil asset forfeiture alone generated more than $68 billion for law enforcement agencies between 2000 and 2019. This practice allows the police to seize property from people who are suspected of a crime, without charging them or proving their guilt.
Moreover, the police state has access to a vast arsenal of weapons, equipment, and technology that are funded by the federal government or donated by the private sector. The Pentagon’s 1033 program, for instance, transfers surplus military gear to local police departments, often at no cost. Since 1997, the program has distributed more than $7.4 billion worth of items, including assault rifles, armored vehicles, grenade launchers, and drones. The Department of Homeland Security also provides grants to local law enforcement agencies to purchase surveillance tools, such as license plate readers, facial recognition software, and stingray devices.
The Police State Does Not Respect the Constitution or the Rule of Law
The police state does not care about the constitutional limits on its power or the legal protections for the citizens. It operates above the law, with little oversight or accountability. It routinely violates the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures, by conducting warrantless raids, roadside strip searches, forcible blood draws, and DNA extractions. It also violates the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech and assembly, by censoring, arresting, and prosecuting people who criticize the government, protest against its policies, or expose its corruption.
The police state also uses its influence and resources to manipulate the judicial system and undermine the due process rights of the accused. It relies on secret evidence, fabricated charges, plea bargains, and mandatory minimum sentences to coerce guilty pleas and secure convictions. It also employs qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that shields government officials from civil lawsuits, to evade responsibility and accountability for its misconduct and abuse.
The Police State Does Not Serve the Public Interest or the Common Good
The police state does not exist to protect and serve the people, but to control and exploit them. It serves the interests of the political and corporate elites, who use it to maintain their power and wealth. It also serves its own interests, by expanding its authority and resources at the expense of the public. It views the people as enemies, suspects, and targets, rather than as citizens, allies, and partners. It treats them with contempt, hostility, and violence, rather than with respect, compassion, and justice.
The police state is not a benign or benevolent force, but a malignant and malevolent one. It poses a grave threat to the freedom, dignity, and well-being of the people. It undermines the values and principles that define the American way of life. It erodes the foundations of democracy and the rule of law. It is the antithesis of everything that America stands for and strives for.
