Hello:
Let's see. We got GOOD cops and we got BAD cops. But, if the GOOD cops NEVER, EVER cross that blue line and put the BAD cops outta business, then they're ALL bad. ALL of 'em.
Do you disagree?
excon
Yes, the cops are good guys... Where would we be without them ? What keeps our society from running wild in the streets ? What is the one major entity keeping our world from complete chaos ?
Hello Chappo:
Authoritarians can only keep the lid on for so long. I don't think they're the ones who're keeping us from complete chaos.. I think they're the ones FOMENTING it.
excon
Right....(shaking head and rolling eyes) !
@EC36 -- Excon's assertion is NOT as ridiculous as you imply (at least in some contexts)
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Police-often-provoke-protest-violence-UC-5704918.php
The author/journalist Kurt Eichenwald, who has covered corporate scandals (e.g. Enron) for 20+ years was once asked if the problem with rouge corporations is people or culture. According to Eichenwald, the problem is culture attracts/creates the people who do the misdeeds. At Enron, everything was OK so long as the quarterly earnings estimates were met, including using Enron's size/importance to intimidate those (outside legal advisors, accountants, investment bankers, etc.) whose job it was to say no to Enron.
I think much the same thing happens in police departments. When police are working in an environment where they are held accountable to high standards and given the resources to meet those standards (such as Richmond, CA), they respond in a positive way. When they are either held to a low standard or even actively encouraged to behave in anti-social ways (such as Ferguson, MO), police respond to that those incentives as well.
Unfortunately, because there is a vast demographic divide in the US with respect to crime (poor/urban/ethnic people are disproportionately both the perpetrators and victims of crime), a large proportion of the politically active population (who tend to be older, richer, and whiter than the overall population) tend to either not care how the police treat Those People, or actively encourage authoritarian abuse/exploitation of Those People.
Add the all-too-human tendency of people to "protect their own" in any organization to the above situation, and we get the observed lack of accountability for police misconduct.
Why would we have laws at all if people were inherently good? It isn't just police officers then by your logic. There's all kinds of bad things that people let happen. The issue is all people are corruptible given the right incentive. Power corrupts how do you stop power from corrupting people? I think that we are our own worst enemy.
What would you suggest in place of a police force? How would you stop all corruption?
There're good and bad in every profession, I'll say the majority are good.
Hello not:
There's been an awful lot of wrongful killings lately.. Yet, nothing is done. Consequently, it can ONLY be seen as unqualified support for it..
excon
It's never so black and white, they're just people like the rest of us.
If your name is an indication. I guess you think a lawless society would be a great thing.
An "awful lot"? How many is that?
Hello w:
If that response was an indication, you must be an ass.
excon
That's all you've got? So how do you think laws should be enforced?
Hello w:
Look.. If my words are too big for you, try the kids page..
excon
depends on which cop it is
