As someone who by any American standard I know of is way out on the left on most issues and as a white 69 year-old man who totally agrees with the objectives of the Black Lives Matter movement, I think "Defund the police" is one of the dumbest political slogans ever coined. Who came up with this? Roger Stone? Sure, as a leftie I see wher…
As someone who by any American standard I know of is way out on the left on most issues and as a white 69 year-old man who totally agrees with the objectives of the Black Lives Matter movement, I think "Defund the police" is one of the dumbest political slogans ever coined. Who came up with this? Roger Stone? Sure, as a leftie I see where this comes from and that it doesn't literally mean "disband the police", but isn't the idea to convince voters who may not be knee-jerk progressives or African Americans that there is a serious problem with how policing is done in most of America, that it is shot through with racism and abuse, and that the legal system and our best wishes alone cannot make things better, so we need to REFORM the police? Just asking...
As a slogan, "end the filibuster" may not be the greatest, but at least it's not the worst.
I have tried using the word "refocus" the police, often with "let them do what they do well, and leave the "catchall" responsibilities that have come with the continuing decline in social, mental, scholastic revenues and make everything from truancy to homelessness to mental illness into police problems. Cops don't do mental health treatment well, nor do they have the training or temperament to handle social issues, especially with no resources to offer.
Sure, "defund the police" is misplaced. But remember how high feelings ran after we lost George Floyd? Those towering emotions cannot be denied. The hostility DTP evoked shows how potent it is: hit 'em in the budget, it's the only place they feel anything. Tat is the proper starting point of discussion.
NB, I wish I had been part of LFAA back in the June Days. Community was so important then. It always is.
It’s not always true that they don’t have the capability. I have a police officer in my family who is good at it. But it is difficult and it’s very difficult to be ready to defend yourself against a moral attack and be is psychological counselor. First you have to determine if people have a gun or a knife in their pocket
As someone who by any American standard I know of is way out on the left on most issues and as a white 69 year-old man who totally agrees with the objectives of the Black Lives Matter movement, I think "Defund the police" is one of the dumbest political slogans ever coined. Who came up with this? Roger Stone? Sure, as a leftie I see where this comes from and that it doesn't literally mean "disband the police", but isn't the idea to convince voters who may not be knee-jerk progressives or African Americans that there is a serious problem with how policing is done in most of America, that it is shot through with racism and abuse, and that the legal system and our best wishes alone cannot make things better, so we need to REFORM the police? Just asking...
As a slogan, "end the filibuster" may not be the greatest, but at least it's not the worst.
I think it should be "Demilitarize the police."
I have tried using the word "refocus" the police, often with "let them do what they do well, and leave the "catchall" responsibilities that have come with the continuing decline in social, mental, scholastic revenues and make everything from truancy to homelessness to mental illness into police problems. Cops don't do mental health treatment well, nor do they have the training or temperament to handle social issues, especially with no resources to offer.
Sure, "defund the police" is misplaced. But remember how high feelings ran after we lost George Floyd? Those towering emotions cannot be denied. The hostility DTP evoked shows how potent it is: hit 'em in the budget, it's the only place they feel anything. Tat is the proper starting point of discussion.
NB, I wish I had been part of LFAA back in the June Days. Community was so important then. It always is.
It’s not always true that they don’t have the capability. I have a police officer in my family who is good at it. But it is difficult and it’s very difficult to be ready to defend yourself against a moral attack and be is psychological counselor. First you have to determine if people have a gun or a knife in their pocket