In college poli-sci classes, you learn there are two schools of thought about what humans would be like in the absence of government.
Some think humans are Basically Good and government corrupts us, so if we could get rid of government, everything would be wonderful.
Others think humans are Basically Rotten and only government protects us from ourselves. If we got rid of government, our lives would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.
Recent events don’t answer the question. Did people riot because government pulled back and let them, or because government was so corrupt they had to?
Ask yourself this: if we get rid of the police, and the Basically Rotten people are correct, what will take the place of the police? Individual citizens maintaining Eternal Vigilance, dispensing Street Justice? Are we certain that’s a better solution than a municipal police force? Are we willing to bet our lives on it?Joe Doakes
The “better solution” our social justice-y betters are splaining to us is Camden – whose new, woke, exquisitely expensive law enforcement organization has improved it from the worst murder rate of any city of any size in the United States to tied with #6 (Kansas City), were it over 200,000 people, which it’s not; it may be the most dangerous small city in the US.
I’ve been reminding people lately that the Trayvon Martin killing was not the police, but an individual maintaining eternal vigilance and dispensing street justice.
That being said, as with everything else liberals do to win virtue points, the idea of defunding the police, even reforming the police system, will probably be mostly lip service. Already on the social media, bicycle and pedestrian advocates are busy making sure everyone knows that traffic violations still need a police response. Some are arguing that traffic violations are used against POC more, but all in all, the agreement is that they don’t care because someone they love commute bikes.
I have heard from officer friends that there are some boring tasks that they wouldn’t mind having off their job description, but even to restructure anything would take more rational discussion and critical thinking than a one party town like Minneapolis is capable of.
A couple points, without police, who will ticket and fine you for not wearing a mask?
Second to Individual citizens maintaining Eternal Vigilance, dispensing Street Justice? : No, in absence of police, Individual Citizen will cow down to the Basically Rotten, hand the armory over, kneel and wash the rotten feet. Or else get out of Dodge and settle in Galt’s Gulch – wherever that is, I hope I find it. The fact we are seeing the Basically Rotten run unopposed taking down monuments and wreaking havoc without interference, never mind the police but the Individual Citizens is proof enough. Boiled yet?
Funny that traffic enforcement was brought up today.
Yesterday afternoon, while driving from Plymouth to Bloomington on 494, I had two black “utes” racing each other, weaving in and out of traffic, almost hitting several cars. My opinion is that, due to current events, black drivers have a “cop wouldn’t dare to pull me over” attitude.
I have been in sales positions for my entire career. As such, I have had a lot of windshield time, driving to and from appointments, etc. I can’t count how many blacks and Asians, especially younger ones, drive like bats out of hell on both the freeways and side streets. I will also add womyn to that, as many more of them that I’ve ever seen, are speeding, running lights and rolling stop signs. And black people wonder why they get pulled over or “profiled”?!
In the absence of government, a government will rise. It’s not “government” per se, that keeps people honest; it’s the governments ability (through the treasure of the governed) to enforce the rule of law.
When people believe that the law is not being enforced, ie: their property is subject to destruction or theft, they will resort to vigilantism. From that will arise a leadership of the best armed. The best armed will amass power. From power they will amass wealth. Wealth and Power. From that basis another government will be made.
Thus has it always been; thus shall it always be.
bosshoss offered: ” I can’t count how many blacks and Asians, especially younger ones, drive like bats out of hell on both the freeways and side streets. I will also add womyn to that…”
Huwhyte yootes are just as guilty. The reason they do not attract quite as much attention is they can drive to begin with.
Negro yoots handle a steering wheel like the hold a pistol. Young Womyn handle a car like they handle a fresh credit card.
Hot Air, citing an article in the NY Times about Minneapolis:
After the death of George Floyd at the hands of the police, Ms. Albers, who is white, and many of her progressive neighbors have vowed to avoid calling law enforcement into their community. Doing so, they believed, would add to the pain that black residents of Minneapolis were feeling and could put them in danger.
Already, that commitment is being challenged. Two weeks ago, dozens of multicolored tents appeared in the neighborhood park. They were brought by homeless people who were displaced during the unrest that gripped the city. The multiracial group of roughly 300 new residents seems to grow larger and more entrenched every day. They do laundry, listen to music and strategize about how to find permanent housing. Some are hampered by mental illness, addiction or both.
Their presence has drawn heavy car traffic into the neighborhood, some from drug dealers. At least two residents have overdosed in the encampment and had to be taken away in ambulances.
The influx of outsiders has kept Ms. Albers awake at night. Though it is unlikely to happen, she has had visions of people from the tent camp forcing their way into her home. She imagines using a baseball bat to defend herself.
Not being able to call the police, as she has done for decades, has shaken her.
“I am afraid,” she said. “I know my neighbors are around, but I’m not feeling grounded in my city at all. Anything could happen.”
Just saw how a progressive Minneapolis neighborhood got themselves a homeless encampment after nudging out the police. Serves them right, though it’s sad to think of their kids getting God knows what from stepping on a leftover needle.
28 days since convicted armed robber,and accused counterfeiter George Floyd was laid to rest in a Golden casket, and still no copper body cam video.
Keith “Hakim X” Ellison has surely seen it, as has Governor Fudd. But the Minneapolis PD union has been refused access, in direct violation of their contract, as has the public. Why isn’t the vibrant urban community demanding the release?
Only morons wonder.
Bubba, any physical disease those kids get pales in comparison with the mental disease they get from their parents.
Pinochet makes a good point. My take is that body cam supports the cops, as does the autopsy. I’m still predicting no worse than a manslaughter conviction. I know nothing about Chauvin’s attorney. If he’s good, he’ll earn his million bucks.
Poor Derek Chauvin. I heard he was trying to turn his life around. Can’t they give the brother a second chance? No one is perfect.
Regarding body cam video, I’m just at a loss as to how it would show that the other video wasn’t indicating that the officers were “subduing” a man many minutes after he was cuffed, minutes after he was unconscious, and minutes after he was found to have no pulse.
Even if he was mightily fighting the officers beforehand, doesn’t the use of force stop when the threat stops? That’s certainly what they taught me in carry permit class! You know, the classic example; if they find seven bullets in the body and you defended yourself with a revolver, you are going to jail because you had time to reload.
Regarding the autopsy, it finds a lot of opioids in his system, and hence it might come down to “what expectation did the police have of being able to see the signs of fentanyl-linked breathing suppression, and what duty did they have to administer the Narcan on their belts?”.