Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

This Florida Sheriff's Message to Heroin Dealers Looks an Awful Lot Like an ISIS Video

Surrounded by a masked militant posse, Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell issued a terrifying video warning for local heroin dealers Monday:

    We’re coming for you... Enjoy looking over your shoulder constantly wondering if today’s the day we come for you. Enjoy trying to sleep tonight wondering if tonight’s the night our SWAT team blows your front door off the hinges. We’re coming for you... Run.

Grinnell has served as Lake County sheriff since last November. The viral video is part of his campaign promise to engage with the community on issues including the heroin epidemic. Viewers have been quick to voice their disgust, comparing the PSA to the kinds of footage released by terrorist organizations like ISIS.

“These cops look like they're going to create a caliphate and behead moderate police officers,” one Twitter user remarked.

In the video, Grinnell warns that many of his undercover agents have already made purchases from drug dealers and "are simply waiting for the arrest warrants to be finalized." Perhaps more stunning is his threat to issue murder charges in cases of fatal overdose.

"I want our citizens to know that I am aware of this serious issue," he says. "Please call and let us know if you know of a location that this poison is being pushed out to our streets. You can remain anonymous."

Original Article
Source: alternet.org/
Author: Alexandra Rosenmann

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