Ecuador's Drug Gang War

 

Drug gangs are becoming more powerful in Latin America. The biggest gang Los Choneros has been responsible for car bombings, assassinations, and kidnappings. Much of the spike in violence comes from the shift in drug consumption and the reach of  other cartels from other countries. Peru and Columbia are the largest cocaine producers, but Ecuador was an area of drug transit. When FARC in Columbia demobilized a power void was created. Europe also wanted more drugs from the area. Smugglers saw a business opportunity in drug transit. Mexican and Venezuelan gangs began infiltration in the 2010s. Another powerful drug gang emerged known as Los Lobos. Both Los Choneros and Los Lobos are enemies. The two gangs have a hatred for government. The police are not able to fight all the factions. This is why the military is being deployed in certain regions. The war on drugs in Ecuador has become actual combat. The government has now declared that criminal gangs are terrorist organizations. What this means is the military will takeover more law enforcement duties. The concern becomes an increase in civilian death during anti-criminal gang operations. The military taking on a law enforcement role could open the path to authoritarianism. President Daniel Noboa's solution is to militarize law enforcement and build more prisons. The state of emergency that was declared is a potential threat to the civil liberties of the Ecuadorian citizen. El Salvador is also facing similar challenges. The result is more migration to from South America to North America. Ecuadorians at some point might have to flee the country due to internal armed conflict.    

The Negative Impacts of COVID-19 Lockdowns

 The World Health Organization declared that COVID-19 is  no longer a public health emergency. It appears that the pandemic gradually is coming to an end. That does not put a stop to the concerns and controversy surrounding public health policy. Considerable debate continues about the origins of the virus. The origin was either zoonotic or the result of gain of function research. Bats and pangolins were cited as the origin of COVID-19. However, the Wuhan Lab that was doing viral research might have been the source. The lab leak theory gains more credibility when viral research has been done for a number of years internationally. A definite answer or conclusion cannot be made without an investigation. Speculation is not conspiracy theory. Notions that COVID-19 was a Chinese bioweapon or part of a depopulation program would be deemed conspiracy theories. The accusation of disinformation and conspiracy theory has been designed to deflect major failures during the crisis. Public health policy was handled poorly and caused more damage. Lockdowns were neither effective or helpful in stopping the virus. The negative impacts will be seen for years to come. Education, the economy, and  personal health suffered due to the lockdowns imposed. Social distancing, vaccination, viral testing, use of masks,  and quarantines  were far more effective methods than lockdowns. Few questioned the policy or acknowledged the devastation it caused. Anti-lockdown protests occurred, because the policy was causing psychological and economic harm to citizens. The more restrictions that came, the greater the possibility of basic human rights to violated. The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in an era of biosecurity policing state apparatus. When the next  pandemic emerges methods might become more draconian. Lockdowns should not be part of public health policy. 

     Education was effected. Children were experiencing learning loss. Locking down schools had no scientific basis given the data. Children were at the lowest risk of death from COVID-19. Risk factors increased based on age and health condition. A person with comorbidities would ne more likely to die from the virus. Healthy children would be safe. The lockdown of schools put struggling students at a disadvantage. Those with learning disabilities or students having difficulty with a particular subject need in person instruction. Students who had  high academic performance also experienced learning loss. Reading and mathematics must be taught in a certain way. Online instruction is not enough to fully master these subjects. The  digital divide demonstrated the disparities among students. Every child does not have internet access. Students of lower socioeconomic status were put at a disadvantage. While primary and secondary school students were negatively impacted, university students were as well. COVID-19  made most classes online. Considering that students are paying high tuition, this becomes more egregious. Students come to class to get a full lecture and instruction. The fact in person learning  was not part of students 2020 semester deprived them of the educational experience. Learning loss is not a temporary mishap. Children who do not learn the essential skills needed will struggle to get employment in the future. As technology and the process of automation advances higher education will be needed for the majority of the workforce. Disruptions such lockdowns jeopardized children's education. 

      The economic devastation from lockdowns can still be felt. Small businesses struggled, unemployment increased, and the world's population lost financial security. Governments did not supply an adequate amount of funds for people to sustain themselves under lockdown. While major corporations were protected, small businesses failed. Working from home was an option for some. Certain jobs cannot operate this way. Construction, retail, and public transportation need employees to present. Some financial aid did come, but did account for cost of living. Rent, utilities,  mortgages,  food, and fuel still had to be paid. Lockdowns made it  impossible to conduct basic commerce. The result was a rapid growth electronic commerce. Seeing as shops, stores, and shopping centers were not open due to lockdown restrictions an uneven shift occurred. Microsoft , Amazon , and streaming services did not have competition. The stores that did remain open began doing price gouging. Those who were employed as essential workers were praised, but did not get the proper amount of hazard pay. Nurses and grocery store workers were made into heroic figures, yet not treated as such. The economy was made worse by lockdowns and exacerbated class division. The poor suffered more in comparison to the upper class elite. Those who who were middle class were getting closer to falling into poverty. Unless a person could get remote work, finding a job was more difficult during the pandemic. Staying home would not be possible unless a person had  enough income to cover living expenses. The years between 2021 to 2022 did not see a recovery. People did not return to jobs, because the pay was to low . When the lockdowns ended all the businesses did not return. The use of masks and social distancing would have been a more practical solution . Instead lockdowns and erroneous supply-side economic policies were implemented.   

      The well being of the public was harmed by lockdowns. Reports of mental health concerns and a rise of domestic violence became common. Loneliness and depression rates were directly connected to the lockdowns. These mental health conditions existed before lockdowns, it just caused more people to suffer from them. The anxiety was also induced by a media and government that promoted fear rather than rational solutions. Panic and concerns about getting sick made some withdraw from social contact. People could not see friends or family. To some this a critical support system. Those with a stable relationships in their social circles discovered for the first time how it feels to be isolated. The lockdowns had an disparity between men and women in terms of well being. Domestic violence became a bigger threat to women under lockdowns. Women who experienced this abuse had limited options during the pandemic. Women's shelters might not have been available. The freedom of movement was restricted and women attempting to escape violence was made harder. Little consideration was given to the horrid condition in which victims of violence live. Mental health was not only effected, but a physical condition can be too. People require some exposure to sunlight. Being sedentary during lockdown can alter circulatory system health. The feeling of being trapped caused a sense of hopelessness. Some were even speculating that the lockdown was going to be a "new normal ."  People who were financially secure  felt lockdowns were an extended vacation. Others were stressed, losing their housing, and in state of constant anguish. The decline in mental health predates the pandemic. The public health crisis made it worse. 

      Lockdowns were presented as the only solution. When the pandemic started vaccines were not available. Those who challenged the position were either ignored or accused of spreading disinformation. When it became apparent that a zero COVID-19 policy was not possible, more people objected to lockdowns. Anti-lockdown protests emerged in Germany, China, the US, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Hungary, and Austria. Canada, Israel, and Lebanon also saw anti-lockdown protests. The demonstrations were not a far-right plot, but a reaction to strict stay at home orders. Citizens were almost forced to protest due to governments not giving sufficient funds to survive. When it came to China's zero COVID-19  policy it meant food insecurity for the people of Shanghai. Those who refused to get vaccinated in Austria were subjected to lockdown. The irrational fear and demonization of the unvaccinated was just another case of panic influencing behavior. The vaccinated can still spread the virus, so the vaccine mandates did not matter. Lockdowns did not contribute to stopping the pandemic. What got the crisis under control was reaching a point of hybrid immunity and vaccines.COVID-19 will not disappear or  be eliminated by lockdowns. Quarantines and viral testing are better approaches. Quarantines take individuals who were sick or exposed and separates them. The term should not be confused with lockdown, which stops daily operations or activities. Efficient viral testing would have prevented much of the disturbances that followed. Social distancing in public accommodations made more sense than shutting down various public places. Instead certain nations chose a lockdown policy when studies have show they were not effective. John Hopkins University concluded in 2022 that lockdowns did not reduce COVID-19 mortality. The spread of the disease was only minimally reduced. Lockdowns were evidence of failed public health policy. The unfortunate fact is that governments and the biomedical establishment will not learn from their mistakes. The world remains unequipped to fight the next pandemic.         

The Rajapaksas Could Be Losing Their Grip on Power

 

Resignations, protests, and economic crisis is disrupting Sri Lanka. These challenges highlight long term problems the country has faced over the past decades. The Rajapaksas under these conditions might fall from power. Their power is comparable to the Sharifs or Shinawatras. Pakistan and Thailand have powerful political families. The case with both those countries is that they eventually are forced from power. The pattern might be repeating in Sri Lanka. The population does not want a dynasty ruling for decades. That model of political system is only tolerated when material conditions are high. Now Sri Lanka faces inflation and supply shortages. The cost of living has increased dramatically. The Rajapaksas could face criminal charges related to corruption. Gotabaya Rajapaksa the former president, could be charged for graft. More charges could be made related to the civil war, which ended in 2009. The abuse of the Tamils has been given more focus. The war against the Tamil Tigers did result in atrocities that have not been fully investigated. At the moment most of the Rajapaksas remain in the country. If political and economic issue continue to grow, their hold on the system will weaken. The question of war crimes and corruption might force some of the Rajapaksas to flee. Gotabaya left and remains in Singapore. Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned as prime minister, but still remains active in politics. Basil Rajapaksa attempted to escape and was apprehended by immigration authorities at an airport. 

F.W. de Klerk's Last Public Statement (2021)

 F.W. de Klerk (1936-2021) released a  public statement before his death. The last president of Apartheid South Africa made an apology for the damage the system caused to the African, Colored, and Indian population.The question remains why this was not done earlier. Guilt could have been the motivation. The regime killed and abused the black majority in order to preserve the political and economic dominance of whites. The National Party continued to be active even with the end of the Apartheid regime in 1994. The party would dissolve in 1997. It then formed into the New National Party in attempt to improve its image. Klerk won a Nobel Prize, which he shared with Nelson Mandela. Although seen as a peaceful mediator , he did not confront the numerous human rights abuses by the security services  during his presidency. The public statement he released expresses the need to uphold the constitution and maintain the independence of the judiciary. The need for job creation and economic empowerment is critical to South Africa's future. F.W. de Klerk discussion on the rule of law seemed contradictory. He presided over a regime that did not acknowledge it and was not happy that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission formed to investigate abuses. F.W. de Klerk will remain a controversial figure in South African history.       

Yoweri Museveni Wins The Ugandan Presidential Election

 

Yoweri Museveni has won a sixth term as  president of Uganda. He has been leading the country since 1986 and it appears the National Resistance Movement remains as powerful as ever. President Museveni claims he brought stability to Uganda and without him the country could face a crisis. Some have observed that like Milton  Obote and Idi Amin Museveni has an authoritarian governing style. There have been accusations that the elections were not free and have issues with irregularities. Bob Wine the opposition candidate  stated there was fraud, which he intends to expose. He represents the segment of a population that wants to see political change in a country that has been under NRM control for 33 years. Kenya has significant investment in Uganda. Large amounts of their exports go to the country. Kenya may want to see Museveni stay in power longer for  economic reasons. A change in administration could alter economic agreements. It is possible that more constitutional changes could be made to enable him to run once more. The allegations of voter intimidation and vote rigging  are not going away. Museveni won 59% of the vote compared to 35% according to the Ugandan Electoral Commission. 

President Trump Refuses To Acknowledge Election Results

 

President Donald Trump has made multiple accusations  of electoral fraud in the 2020 elections. There were irregularities due to a postal service under attack by the administration itself . Voter suppression and the possibility  of lost ballots demonstrate the American political structure was in decline before Trump was elected in 2016. What President Trump is seeking to do is to undo the election results through the courts. The lawsuits  have not been successful and the alarm about a "Trump coup" appears to be an exaggeration. The only way a Trump coup could happen is if the entire military and law enforcement apparatus was willing to prevent Biden from being sworn in. The Trump presidency is nearing its end, however the political transformation continues in America. Trumpism has not been defeated and could remain a possible threat to attempts for change. The Democratic Party has to perform at its highest level and adopt a more leftist agenda to thwart this movement. The real fear rather than a Trump coup, could be Trump attempting to run again in 2024. Expectations are high from the public and if certain demands are not met another a more dangerous extremist could get elected. Rumors continue to circulate that President Trump may not leave office, but this has not been confirmed. The transition of power will happen. The real challenge  is what happens afterwards.    

Growing Demonstrations Against Police Violence in The United States

 

The US is experiencing more protests against the escalation of police violence. The murder of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by law enforcement has demonstrated  America's distain for its African American population . The police have the ability to murder without punishment or repercussions. The people however, will no longer tolerate such vicious behavior. The demonstrations will continue as long as violence is directed a the African American community. The tactics and methods used by police only reveal that basic rights are gradually be taken away. Both presidential candidates are not committed to police reform, because they know when conditions get worse they will require them to end an uprising. A police force does not exist for fighting crime or protecting the public. Law enforcement's role is to inflict violence on the behalf of the ruling elite and maintain a political system. Simple reforms will not have an effect, if entire police departments are corrupt. Police officers must be changed and incarcerated for murder. There is a growing problem of white supremacist infiltration of police departments in the United States. A growing right-wing extremist  movement is  spreading through the country. Reforms are actively being rejected by police unions. Protests have been peaceful, but there have been cases of  looting and property damage. The majority of  violence comes from police directing their ire at protesters. America continues to descend more into what would be a police state, with civil unrest being common. If change  does not happen it only increases the possibility of mass insurrection.  

Protests Sparked Over The Presidential Election in Belarus

 

Belarus held its presidential elections on Sunday. The results announced that longtime incumbent Alexander Lukashenko won the election with 80% of the vote. The issue which opposition leaders have raised is that the elections were not free or fair. Protests have broken out in various cities across the European nation. Russia's response was to congratulate President Lukashenko's election victory. Germany has been skeptical of the political situation in the country. As demonstrations continue to grow, this will most likely attract foreign powers. the opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikanouskaya has attracted more support. There are fears Belarus could follow a path similar to Ukraine. An internal crisis can be used as an excuse for intervention by the EU. There is no indication that the opposition is being controlled by foreign powers for the sake of regime change. Belarus could be entering another political phase and the citizens may  desire large scale change. Alexander Lukashenko has been in power since 1994 and has faced little  formidable opposition. Sviatlana Tsikanouskaya has ran as an independent building a coalition across the political spectrum. The challenge is keeping such an alliance unified. Being against the government or current  administration is not enough to ensure a  promising future. Repression has gotten worse with journalists and opposition leaders put under arrest. Belarus faces a crisis that consists of  authoritarian government, political oppression, threat of  geopolitical maneuvering between Russia and the EU.   

Law Enforcement, Oppression, and The Abuses of The US Government

The murder of George Floyd has sparked demonstrations across the United States. The response from the Trump administration has been hostile. The White House has threatened to use  the Insurrection Act and mobilize the armed forces against the protesters. The argument has been that it is not directed at peaceful demonstrators, rather looters and members of Antifa. There is not a specific number of how many people are engaging in looting or crime. Antifa really is not an organized movement. It is a small association of anti-fascist leftists who demonstrate. Their numbers are not large enough to be a considerable security issue. The fixation on looters and Antifa are nothing more than excuses to use violence against protesters. The real danger is the military and law enforcement will be used to kill large groups of unarmed citizens on the orders of President Trump. So far the situation has not escalated to that degree. The United States was never a democratic society. The nation was built on the enslavement of African Americans, who were considered property. The working class has never had real representation. The US Constitution has been nothing more than an ignored document, becoming weaker every passing presidential administration. The obsession with security, terrorism, and militarization have culminated in the current crisis. Racial hatred is part of America's ideology, that few citizens are willing to admit. The land that white Americans call theirs once belonged to thriving Indian American civilizations. The US  became a powerful nation through genocide, slavery, and avarice. The violent legacy has reached a critical point. The illusion of freedom, justice, and a stable republic has been exposed. The US could  fall into a state of martial law and authoritarianism. Law enforcement plays an essential role in maintaining a power structure and regime. The nature of oppression in America is that violence and  abuse is presented as a cause for good or public safety . The US government has never been interested in protecting the lives, well being, or rights of its citizens. The violence, police brutality, and murder will continued to be condoned by the state. Law enforcement is the instrument in which an abusive government can hold power. 

        Law enforcement is not about protecting the public or serving communities. Its real function is to ensure that a ruling elite can inflict violence upon the population when needed. The police in America evolved from slave patrols in the 18th and 19th centuries. This was not only designed to prevent the enslaved from escaping, rather to control every aspect of their life. Law enforcement was also used to crush strikes and labor disputes. The Haymarket Square incident in 1886 saw police violence directed at labor activists in Chicago. A bomb was thrown, which sparked a riot. Eight anarchists were charged, but it still remains a mystery who was actually responsible. When emancipation came and African Americans were no longer in bondage,  a new system was created to restrict freedom. The Jim Crow laws were designed to segregate, control, and monitor the African American population. This would not have been possible without law enforcement using violence to enforce a racial caste system. During the civil rights movement activist not only had to worry about hate groups such as the Klu Klux Klan or the American Nazi Party. The biggest threat was law enforcement in both the south and north of  America. Police were absent when white mobs attacked non-violent protesters. Police were sometimes members of the Klu Klux Klan. Law enforcement was not interested in stopping white supremacist vigilantes or  terrorists. The main objective was ensuring the political and social status quo. Today, the police are doing repeating the same behavior.

Selma, Alabama during what would be known as bloody Sunday (1965).

Police firing into the crowd during the Haymarket incident.

Police attack unarmed  protesters during the George Floyd demonstrations.

Journalists and reporters are no longer safe. There have been cases in which reporters have been arrested simply by covering the protests by police. No charges were given and there was no indication reporting was inciting a disturbance. Excuses are used as means of improving public image of a corrupt institution. The claim that it is only a few untrained or  malevolent officers that are responsible for brutality and murder lacks cogency. At some point the majority have engaged in abusive or questionable behavior. The reason that they are more willing to do this to non-white citizens and the poor is because the ability to fight back is limited. Law enforcement tactics are different compared to the types used in the inner city or a suburb. The inner city is rigidly controlled and the residents of the suburbs are given the illusion of security.  Law enforcement is a network of corruption protected by strong police unions including the courts. Any person who likes human rights, freedom, or justice would not support the police. Crime fighting is not their true function if it has gradually increased. Mass shootings, far-right extremist organizations, and hate crimes are on the rise, while law enforcement does not aggressively tackle these issues. Police officers may also be part of certain extremist groups. The exact number is not known, which further complicates the situation.Police will never side with the people. The attempts of some police departments to show solidarity with protesters is nothing more than calculated public relations stunts. Fundamentally, police departments will not change. The only way this can happen is through legislation from the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Democratic and Republican Party will take no such steps seeing as if there were mass insurrection nationwide, police and  the National Guard would be deployed. The social and political conditions in America are rapidly deteriorating to a point in which there may be escalated civil unrest. Unrest gives justification for advocates of authoritarianism to impose limits on basic rights and undermine or eliminate the US Constitution. Since the protests began law enforcement has consistently violated the freedom of assembly and free press. Americans now are seeing the vicious nature of oppression documented in video and eye witness accounts.
        The United States justifies oppression and the elimination of dissent by saying it is for public safety. Since the 9/11 attacks of 2001, American society has become more fixated on security and militarization. The creation of ICE, which continues to abuse detained immigrants with little resistance from congress or the senate. The Patriot Act and National Defense Authorization Act has given the government too much power to violate the rights of  American citizens. The only reason oppression remains in place is by a network of police, intelligence, and federal agencies. The FBI and CIA have been known to spy on a number of protest movements. The NSA continues to monitor US citizens with no criminal record. This phenomenon has been referred to as the deep state. It is not what Trumpist Republicans think it is. Their view is that there is a liberal or globalist conspiracy orchestrating all opposition to them. The military industrial complex and the neoconservative political faction are managers of the deep state. The Trump administration has allied with this political faction and  the results are now being seen in domestic policy. President Trump who threatened to use force on protesters by means of the Insurrection Act, who have no problem murdering them if necessary. The president could be calculating how to induce a military coup with some generals who are loyal to him. Seeing as genuine leftist opposition is weak or non-existent the task would be simple. The response to anti- lockdown protests was different, because it consisted of groups supportive of the administration. Christian fundamentalists, anti-vaccine advocates, and far-right conspiracy theorists were the groups active. President Trump has barriers stopping him from inflicting violence, however supporters can be mobilized. The most violent of these are white nationalists  and second amendment advocates who would be willing to attack protesters. President Trump stated that "when the looting starts the shooting starts" in a Twitter post. He vowed to defend second amendment rights, which was a subtle message to supporters to arm themselves. The Bible photo stunt in which  protesters were forcibly removed from the area was a message to the Christian fundamentalists. Fight against social and political change. Instigating enough anger among these groups make them soldiers in a possible war. The fear is that if Trump loses the presidency,  these supporters will be involved in post-election violence. 

Attorney William Barr may have ordered the forced removal of protesters for the photo op.  

Trump won the presidency by appealing to white America's racism and frustration over the economy. 

The anti-lockdown protesters were never attacked by the police. 

This is common in certain African and Asian countries. Power transition at times is not always accepted. Conservatives have been mostly supportive of Trump's actions so far, with few opposing voices. Silence has become nothing more than a nod of approval. The United States has operated under some form oppression during its 200 year history. From slavery, segregation, and networks of reservations  use to intern the original inhabitants, liberty was nothing more than a fantasy. During the 1930s  some Americans even adopted fascism as a political solution. The American Nazi Party and the Silver Legion of America were the two most notable fascist organizations in the United States. When war broke out in 1941 these organizations membership  declined and disbanded. The call for law and order is coded language for establishing a white nationalist regime under an authoritarian political system. Such a model  would resemble Apartheid South Africa. The changing demographics of the US make whites more willing to accept far-right extremist leaders. Anyone who is not  white or shares their ideology is deemed an enemy. African Americans, Muslims, and immigrants have become targets. The corporate and business elite also have significant investment in oppression. This is related to private prisons. The United States continues to imprison a significant number of people for non-violent drug related offenses. The war on drugs gave birth to the prison industrial complex and targeted African Americans at a time, when segregation was disappearing. The decriminalization of certain drugs such a marijuana can reverse this. The problem is that the prison industrial complex has expanded to include immigrant detainment and roles in fighting terrorism. The US continues to build more prisons not to combat crime, but for the sake of profit and to subjugate the population. When economic and social conditions become more unbearable there will be revolts. Having a network of prisons makes it easier to stop demonstrations, uprisings, or deposing the establishment. President Trump by attempting to designate Antifa as a terrorist organization is setting a path to criminalizing any form of disagreement with the government as criminal. The radical left he claims is a threat to security. The network of prisons, police, and government are the biggest threat to the well being of people living in the United States. 

           The current wave of state violence, should be no surprise considering the US government has a long history of abuse. For decades the power of the executive branch has been immensely expanded. The repercussions of this have been that the US has adopted a law enforcement mentality in foreign affairs. It presents itself as a global enforcer of order smashing any country that dares to object. Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Somalia, and Yemen have been subject to aggression by the United States. If the US government is willing to do that to other nations,  the violence by police would be an inevitable consequence. US leaders are more interested in the expansion of  political and police power, rather than the protection of basic human rights. Significant police reform has not progressed since Baltimore or Ferguson incidents. The rise of the imperial presidency, violation of human rights, and police brutality shows that the US government is at war with its own people. American power on the international stage has faced  a decline. Economic and domestic strains, make the elite more fearful about a mass movement against them. To cover their criminal acts and repression scapegoats must be designated to distract the population. China and Russia  fill this function as the justification for the expansion of executive power and the global policing role. Both conservative and centre-left political figures blame these two countries for America's challenges. Susan Rice suggested when appearing on MSNBC that Russia may attempt to manipulate the protests or possibly infiltrate them. Evidence of foreign interference in the George Floyd does not exist. The demonstrations are indigenous and a natural reaction to racism .  Without an imagined existential threat, the US could no longer make an excuse for the military industrial complex and a world policing role. The conservative and liberal political factions have embraced the world policing role since the collapse of the Soviet Union. No matter which party the state of  permanent warfare continues. During periods of war the populace is more likely to accept reduction  in freedoms or more policing  for the idea of feeling safe. The presidency has been able to declare war with formal declarations from congress, enabling government abuse. The global policing  policy has been applied to domestic affairs. 

       The majority of American still hold on to the notion that law enforcement is a positive force in society. The facts demonstrate that it is a representation of a corrupt and decaying system. Their sole function exists to enable a power structure to inflict violence against people who protest or object to government policy. The police are present to enforce a racial hierarchy that has been present since America's founding. Simultaneously, the political status quo must be maintained. The act of protest or dissent is condemned by law enforcement as a disturbance or criminal act. There is an open hostility directed at activists or anyone who openly criticizes police practices. If there is to be fascist or totalitarian regime established in America the police will be a major part of its success. The United States may be getting close to a coup or civil war. The infiltration of hate groups and white nationalists into the military as well as police has been known for sometime. Under a president that is sympathetic to their beliefs a coup and suspension of the US Constitution could be possible. The United States now faces it greatest test. The republic has become fragile under racism, corporate greed, and a national security state. The question remains can such ills be defeated. Under current leadership they cannot. As the conservative movement becomes more extreme and the power of the executive branch grows, sociopolitical  problems are exacerbated. The only solution is an ambitious restructuring of various American institutions. If the White House, congress, and senate are not willing to do this demonstrations will not remain peaceful. Unconventional participation is used when  other methods such as voting, working on political campaigns, or making donations have become ineffective. The Democratic and Republican Party are dependent on corporate donors, which means dramatic change cannot happen under such a financial  condition. If law enforcement is not restrained or regulated people will begin to revolt. To prevent cycles of  violence there needs to be federal oversight of police departments across the country. The freedom of assembly and press must be protected from law enforcement repression. If nothing is done, then the US may cease being a functioning nation-state.