That is well stated. Many Conservatives have a ‘hold-over’ effect of their parent’s and Grandparents; which was an admonishment to always trust government and their agents as upright and virtuous. Such was taught to be civic patriotism.
Sadly, we are no longer a moral or a virtuous society and corruption and cronyism is rampant in every single institution in this country.
Because government was taught and seen as ‘virtuous’ - growing it and expanding it was accepted as a societal good even by ‘conservatives’. This includes any agent of the state with a badge and uniform. They fed a beast that is now self-aware with an insatiable of appetite for everything the people possess that it does not have absolute control over.
What many ‘Conservatives’ mean when they say they want ‘smaller government’ is simply less ‘liberals’ and liberal programs in government. They have little problem with ‘Conservative’ expansion of government, for things like SWAT teams for the weather bureau (because they are Police and a good citizen always supports the police in any fashion).
We are a people grown ignorant of what was intended for us. So many Conservatives are comfortable with living in a police state, and will make excuses for it.
I don’t know what kind of conservatism your grandparents or parents taught you. Mine KNEW that the government was not trustworthy because they were all politicians. The police were local folks who cared about their community....in small towns. The city police it depended upon the particular officer...but on the whole they were okay people.
I NEVER was taught that government was virtuous....don’t know where you ever got that idea.
Suggesting that a police officer get the same constitutional due process, including a presumption of innocence, as other citizens does not mean one is living in a police state. The idea that you think you do suggests you do not know what a true police state is. Have we lost and/or given up essential freedoms? The answer is an unequivocal yes. The idea that you cannot see the inherent threat from the left(communists) and the right (Islamists) means that you put us all at risk.