Originally Posted by Rochard

I disagree with where you said our police forces are becoming "less effective". Violent crime is dropping quickly, even through the recession. My little police force in my little home town has license plate scanners on the top of their cars and they can spot a stolen car without putting much effort into it. I think that's great.

The police forces are getting more powerful because they have to. Citizens are now armed with assault rifles, and the police have to match this - and beat it. And while I do believe the police response there has been a bit much, at the same time a day before there was mass looting going on.