> you don't pour kerosene on it while trying to put it out, right? The fact is that you're not trying to put out the fire (I am talking about the US, as this s

> you don't pour kerosene on it while trying to put it out, right? The fact is that you're not trying to put out the fire (I am talking about the US, as this seems to be first and foremost a US issue). You're actually feeding it, in the conviction that it's the right thing to do. Removing the worst flammable materials is pretty pointless when you have already decided that you want the fire to keep burning because you still think it's for the best. Out of the metaphor, the US police seems to be uniquely prone to escalating conflicts and generally asserting its absolute power because it's expression of the law. From the outside, the US seem to be a society where everyone (starting from the police, down to citizens, criminals, law enforcement and prisons) is encouraged to "stand their ground" up to the highest possible level of conflict, without a space for mediation, forgiveness or oblivion. That is the fire, and the US thinks it's just fine to keep it burning.