Irony defined: who enforces the enforcers?

I could be wrong, because I'm no attorney, but...

There doesn't appear to be an exception in the city's parking ordinance for non-emergency vehicles. And I've never heard an emergency overtime parking call go out over the police radio.

To top this off, the parking enforcement vehicle is parked under the 8th Street viaduct at the police parking office, where there were empty spaces available for parking enforcement vehicles a few feet away at the time this photo was taken.

The reason for no-parking zones is always for public safety. Where they're placed nearly always improves sight lines, making motoring safer in general. But restricting parking isn't just for cars. As the Federal Highway Administration points out, parking creates a visual barrier between motor vehicle traffic and crossing pedestrians, especially children and people using wheelchairs.

A "consensual stop" in West Des Moines, Iowa

A video posted under the channel name Frank Meadows shows police being scolded for stopping a man walking along a city street. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRjUt3n7Rh0)

The man, apparently walking to a Walmart in West Des Moines, Iowa, was flagged down by 2 police officers passing by in a marked patrol car. They were joined by another pair of officers shortly thereafter.

Officers Brian Ascheman and Jacob Sutton identified themselves when asked. The other two officers, Greg Warren and Clint Ray, appeared to remain silent when asked their names. Ray is the police officer who arrested Keilon Hill for harassment on October 29, 2018 while canvassing. (https://www.youtube.com/edit?video_id=Ox6qoW3sEFM)

In the video entitled "Harassed by West Des Moines police for walking" Meadows entered this description: "Walking out of hotel and instantly targeted by police. Thir attitude changed into smug condescension when I askef to talk to a superior officer. Smug, smug assholes."

"I didn't stop you. I asked you if you were okay," Ashman said. "Why don't you just get your sergeant here?" Meadows asked.

Meadows was openly videotaping the encounter and said he'd "kick it straight over to Vimeo as soon as we're done." At one point Ascheman ordered Meadows: "Don't put your hands in your pockets!" Meadows then offered to let the officers pat him down for weapons so they'd be "absolutely sure that you are not in any danger or fear for your life." After the pat-down Ascheman told Meadows, "Put your hands where ever you'd like."

While it's not clear how long the encounter lasted, the 2-minute, 45-second video presents a quandary: was Meadows detained by the actions of police officers? He was flagged down by police, was surrounded by 4 officers at one point, and was told not to put his hands in his pockets. On the other hand, Ascheman told Meadows repeatedly that this was a consensual encounter, was not detained, and was free to leave at any time.

When invited to leave, Meadows told the officers, "Actually I'm going to file a complaint because this is some kind of shakedown and it's bullshit." "I asked you a question, if you were okay, and you said 'yes,'" Ascheman explained. "And then you started asking me question which you had no business asking," said Meadows. "Can I not ask somebody walking down the street questions?"

"This one is going on YouTube and a couple of others," Meadows exclaimed. At the end of the video Meadows told the group of officers, "Pleasure doing business with you." "Have a good day" Officer Ascheman said.

Police Officer Brian Ascheman #229
5 years
2018 salary: $69,056.46

Police Officer Jacob Sutton #261
1 year
2018 salary: $18,871.20

Reserve Officer Greg Warren #16
11 years
2018 salary: $1 (Reserve Officers are volunteers)

Police Officer Clint Ray #234
4 years
2018 salary: $63,576.07

Sandy and the federal government's response

James Madison called and wants to know why people of the 21st century are having a partison debate on which of two presidents did a better job cleaning up after natural disasters when neither possessed the authority to do so. I hope it's OK that I told him he left us with a government that routinely exceeds its authority, with the consent of the least informed citizens.

It's interesting to watch this debate on the quality of the federal government's post-disaster cleanup in the affected states following Hurricane Sandy.

Isn't there something objectively wrong in expecting presidents to exercise authority of medieval kings?

On the floor of the US House of Representatives James Madison said he could not undertake to lay his finger on that article in the Federal Constitution which granted a right of Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.  (See the Annals of Congress, House of Representatives, 3rd Congress, 1st Session, page 170.)

Those objects of benevolence Madison refers to are compulsory levies imposed on the people with no other authority than the claim of prerogative -- authority we typically attribute to medieval kings, not a US President who is supposed to be constrained by a charter that traditionally limits government powers to the general welfare, of all the people.

Would we be having this conversation if government didn't routinely exceed its authority, with the consent of the least informed citizens?

In our society we have elected and civic leaders that fully expect the citizens to graciously accept their representations of the laws of the universe without question.  The people are well to let others do the important thinking, like judging the validity of evidence.  Critical thinking is not encouraged.

In science, well-founded ideas are advanced if they are open to scrutiny and are peer-reviewable.  But ideas of politicians requires a measure of faith and trust in their character.

The First and Second Amendments are there precisely because government is not to be trusted, but watched and held accountable by the people and their press -- with arms, if necessary.