I have been following with increasing concern the conversion of America from an open democratic state with a community friendly police system, to a county of militarized police and smothering surveillance. Perhaps like you I have been watching what is going on in Ferguson, Missouri and have been appalled by images that one might expect to see in a repressive fascist state, but one would never expect to see in the United States. What is on our televisions is the police state that has arisen since 9/11 — ill-trained police over equipped with war material, and a failure of civil leadership are its hallmarks. Is this the country you want to live in? Today’s issue is mostly about this question, which I think is very pressing, if not already too late.

— Stephan