Po-po tasers 72 year old great grandmother during traffic stop (YouTube)

[Peikko 1,575]

I am sure that the police have appropriate levels of force for different situations. I find it odd that anyone would consider this an appropriate measure of force under these particular circumstances. I think this tells us something about the levels of inappropriate fear that exist in the public at large.

[Peikko 1,575]

The guy who wrote 'The Wire' (a show I haven't seen) was the journalist - now fiction writer. He's an interesting guy. I am sure some of it is propaganda, but still interesting.

David Simon was I think - his partner Ed Burns was actually a Police Detective.

Right, there were two writers of the show. I am so ####### at names. I wonder if he had a personal experience that has led to this interest? The other interesting thing to come out of the radio show was that the sort of journalism required for the type of investigation he carried out over the years is less likely to be financed in the US these days. Dangerous times.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

O/T but did you see the ruling that came down from the UK Law Lords about Control Orders?

Ever since 2001, we gave a lot of power to the police without a corresponding level of responsibility for it. On the face of it - being tasered is pretty mild (though pretty reckless to do that to someone at an age where any sort of trauma can cause serious problems) when you can have your head blown off on the subway (Oops - we didn't realise we were following you) or have your skull smashed in if you get caught up in a riot.

The guy who wrote 'The Wire' (a show I haven't seen) was the journalist - now fiction writer. He's an interesting guy. I am sure some of it is propaganda, but still interesting.

David Simon was I think - his partner Ed Burns was actually a Police Detective.

Right, there were two writers of the show. I am so ####### at names. I wonder if he had a personal experience that has led to this interest? The other interesting thing to come out of the radio show was that the sort of journalism required for the type of investigation he carried out over the years is less likely to be financed in the US these days. Dangerous times.

I do recommend it - it is a very interesting show. Each season deals with a different government institution and how it factors into people everyday lives.

[Peikko 1,575]

Yes, heard that this morning. 9:0 judgment that it is not 'fair' to deny a person the right to defend themselves due to having no access to the reason for being held and the government is pissed about it even though, a senior member of the police force commented that such actions really are useless in the 'war' on terror.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It is bizarre though - the right to a fair trial and to face formalised charges is actually a cornerstone of most judicial systems.

[tmma 467]

Gramma was feisty. Watching the clip-I couldn't help but think " this old buzzard is baiting him-then she's going to sue the beejeezus out of the city/county".

Police Brutality! Yay!

( Personally I think the old coot asked for it when she said " I dare ya-go on taze me!")

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

You'd think though that the cops would be aware that tasering an OAP could lead to a lawsuit if the person's heart gave out. The cops are in the position of power and authority - they could choose to not taser a pensioner...

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Even young people have died from a taser. Unless we implant all people with chips that broadcast their medical data in real-time, thus enabling a 'smart taser' to determine risk before firing (or not), tasers are just a bad idea.

[tmma 467]

as is goading cops on the side of the road ( a bad idea).

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

You can't kill a cop by goading him

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

as is goading cops on the side of the road ( a bad idea).

But doesn't this justify the cops having short tempers?

I do think they are too ready to resort to violence as a way of dealing with difficult people. But no matter how grouchy or crotchety an old woman might be - its a stretch to believe that a tasering the person is a reasonable response.

[tmma 467]

You can't kill a cop by goading him

Oh I dunno....The cop in the video looked kind of chunky, was sweating and I think he was showing signs of stress induced hypertension. It was either tazer her or stroke out, I think. He'll probably use that as his defense. (jk, and I still think gramma did it for the lawsuit).

[Peikko 1,575]

It is bizarre though - the right to a fair trial and to face formalised charges is actually a cornerstone of most judicial systems.

I totally agree. The balance of power has swung way to far onto the side of the political elite in the UK. Well meaning or not. It's quite time to shift it back. What I find totally absurd though, is following on from the expenses scandal, Brown is prepared to look at all kinds of reforms (not before time) and that chopfvck Cameron is quite content with the system as is (at least as far as voting systems is concerned) and thinks Brown is simply trying to massage the figures so that he can get re-elected. Seriously, it's not going to happen before the next election whatever they do now. He's totally fvcked in the head.

[The_Dude 1,142]

as is goading cops on the side of the road ( a bad idea).

But doesn't this justify the cops having short tempers?

I do think they are too ready to resort to violence as a way of dealing with difficult people. But no matter how grouchy or crotchety an old woman might be - its a stretch to believe that a tasering the person is a reasonable response.

Most officers are not just cranky or crotchety. A bit jaded, yes, but not merely cranky. Having seen the underbelly of society, and the limits of humanity teaches you a few lessons in life. The job they perform puts their lives on the line, and they do not take this fact lightly. Officers do so at their own peril. Whether you estimate a grandmother as harmless or not is beside the point. She could potentially be dangerous. She could have a weapon. Furthermore, she was given a simple set of commands. She was being obstinant and obstructive on purpose.

In that situation, anything the officer did short of tell her to go home, some people would have had a problem with. The fact remains, she committed some sort of traffic violation and subsequently , by her actions and inactions resisted arrest, and even her touching the officer commited battery on an officer.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It is bizarre though - the right to a fair trial and to face formalised charges is actually a cornerstone of most judicial systems.

I totally agree. The balance of power has swung way to far onto the side of the political elite in the UK. Well meaning or not. It's quite time to shift it back. What I find totally absurd though, is following on from the expenses scandal, Brown is prepared to look at all kinds of reforms (not before time) and that chopfvck Cameron is quite content with the system as is (at least as far as voting systems is concerned) and thinks Brown is simply trying to massage the figures so that he can get re-elected. Seriously, it's not going to happen before the next election whatever they do now. He's totally fvcked in the head.

I think Labour is done to be honest with you, after Blair turned out to be more of a Thatcherite than Thatcher the only way the Conservatives could go more to the right is if they became the BNP.

David "Look at me on my bike!" Cameron seems like a total opportunist - as did Michael Howard before him. I don't think he's interested in the running the country as much as securing the role of Prime Minister for its own ends.