Isn't it Awful About Syria?

Simon Black, of the sovereignman.com blog, recently had this to say: 

Did you hear about the latest civil unrest in Syria?  Police in full riot gear swarmed peaceful students who were staging a completely non-violent, human-chain sit-in at a university campus. 

The Syrian police came up at point-blank range and hosed these kids down with pepper spray. If you've never been assaulted with pepper spray before, let me assure you that it is easily one of the most uncomfortable experiences you could ever go through in your entire life. 

It was a truly disgusting display-- meeting peace with violence and brutality. Just the sort of thing you would expect from an oppressive regime like Syria. 

Except... it wasn't in Syria. It was in California... right here in the land of the free. 

I had this exact same thought. I do not understand the thought processes that condemn the Syrian government for what the American government would do in the same situation. If you think I exaggerate I suggest you remember Ruby Ridge, Waco, and Wounded Knee. 

I do not think we realize that modern society is a fragile thing. If we let the police act like stereotypical storm troopers from Star Wars, then we will inevitably have to live with the words of Princess Leia: "The more you tighten your grip, the more star systems will slip away from you." 

While Occupy people see the same problems I see, yet they, at least in some of the unofficial proposals I have read, are economically ignorant. 

I wonder how they are going to react when they see the austerity measures that America will have to enact soon. These austerity measures are the exact opposite of what the Occupy movement seems to want. It will not be pretty.