> Citizen is absolutely correct.

Oh, is this a bad thing now? "Citizen" is somehow supposed to be an inferior position? We are supposed to be the masters of our public servants, not their servants.

> Van's latest adventure with the police officer was
> predictable and preventable.

Agreed. Many injustices we suffer can be avoided by simple submission to lesser injustices. This is always the deal offered by those who seek to dominate us.

> Van,if you don't want to act like a reasonable human
> being, if you cannot find it in yourself to be civil and
> act with a modest amount of respect toward police
> officers or other authority figures then you expose
> yourself to cetain possible consequences.

I am civil and reasonable to those who treat ME reasonably. What is civil about threatening me with violence over my refusal to wear a govt ID card around town like some kind of prisoner or criminal?

What is civil about taking me hostage (with further threats of violence if I take any action to defend myself) because some control freak wants to play Simon Says and demand that I obey a completely unnecessary and unconstitutional restriction on my freedom (standing outside my car instead of sitting inside of it)?

Is there something magick about appending "sir" to the end of a threat? Can I rob people at the ATM and have you chastise my victims for rude behavior while ignoring mine simply because I said "Give me all your cash now sir" instead of "Give me all your cash"?

I owe no debt of civility to an armed thug unjustly restricting my freedom, invading my privacy, threatening me with harm, and holding me hostage just because his ego can't take a public tongue-lashing when he's once again guilty of throwing his weight around.

Do you see me going out of my way to harrass innocent people minding their own business? Threatening them? Assaulting them? I mind my own business, until someone crosses the line and gets in my face.

That line is the line of common courtesy on which civilization is based. That line is crossed any time an armed thug - no matter who he works for - decides to interrupt someone's life without a good reason.

Had a car fitting the description of mine been reported in a recent hit-and-run, that would be different. Were I wanted for rape or armed robbery, that would be different.

Our police need an additional lesson added to their Academy curriculum. That lesson is this: the power you were given is not your toy. You have no authority, no business, using it for personal grudges, vendettas, or revenge. You are on the public's time, living off of the public's money, and if you can't muster the professionalism and maturity to ignore criticism with which you do not agree, if you can't resist the urge to abuse your power for personal ends, YOU ARE UNQUALIFIED FOR THE JOB.

And if you can't manage that, then fine.. take off the badge instead of hiding behind it, and we'll settle this your way.

-Van