Alone or almost alone in the world, we have local police forces. (In other countries, other police forces are managed, equipped and paid at a national level). The militarization of the police is not necessarily a bad thing. It provides a somewhat more capable armed counter to any attempt at a national dictatorship. Local police forces will be the core of any militia that rises against a would-be Fidel Castro in White House.
The local police will remain loyal to however pays their salaries, their retirement benefits, and their lifetime healthcare. That would be big government. This has been true since the days of Sulla.
Far fetched and wrong.
The equipment and tactics they use are part and parcel of Washington big government. Homeland security is subsidizing this madness, and could easily cut off the hose should a national dictatorship arise.
It is a bad thing on all levels. There are differences between police officers and soldiers in any truly free society. Dictatorships are where their roles are indistinguishable.
Truly surprised to see this point of view of FreeRepublic. Scary.