Allowing ourselves to be gaslighted undermines everything from the evaluation of candidates to the functions of a county clerk to the safety of the public. We are at our best when we refuse to be stampeded into defending the privileged or scorning journalistic scrutiny or devaluing civil liberties.

The time is now to change the way we police America before hundreds of thousands of more pieces of military gear go to main streets across America. The face of America is changing quickly. Let's make sure it's not for the worse.

A recently retired interim police chief in Seattle replied, "I'm not there yet" when asked by a local reporter whether he could support an end to drug prohibition. As these leaders continue to dither, we will continue to experience a steady stream of exasperating, heartbreaking incidents.