Blame

Got linked to an article about the militarization of the cops.

Nixon and Reagan are entirely to blame it seems.

Except...

It's not JUST them.

Until recently, a president needed Congress to pass the laws they were signing and enforcing.  Congress was decidedly one party from 1955 to 1994 in the house and with the exception of 1981-1987 the senate too.

That'd make it bipartisan, wouldn't it?

I also notice that while the Democrats controlled both congress and the white house they didn't rush out to repeal the laws which offend us so today.  Nor did any Republican president condemn those laws.

Again, bipartisan.

I'd like to say that the Republicans didn't make things worse when they had both houses and The White House, but Patriot Act...

Do not forget, when you see this politician or that condemning the effects of this law or that; how did they vote on it?  It's often surprising to see they supported the law when it was a bill and oppose it now that it's a law.  It's depressing that they very seldom get called on it.

Another issue at play here, and its something I have to grudgingly give LBJ credit for, "You do not examine legislation in the light of the benefits it will convey if properly administered, but in the light of the wrongs it would do and the harms it would cause if improperly administered."

Too much law is passed with the idea that the people administering it agree with the authors of the bill and completely understand what the authors meant by it.