Okay, saw Captain America - the Winter Solider - it all makes sense now. Apparently Shield was supposed come across a wee bit fascist in those first several episodes - because it was a fascist organization. We were supposed to be disturbed. And at the same time, the writers were cleverly satirizing that trope in films and television. In short they were more clever than I gave them credit for. What ticked various viewers off - was deliberate.