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- US Police: 1.2 million full-time or part-time [1] - US Military: 1.29 million active [2] - US Population: 329.74 million [3] I believe they're outnumbered

- US Police: 1.2 million full-time or part-time [1] - US Military: 1.29 million active [2] - US Population: 329.74 million [3] I believe they're outnumbered by about 131 to 1. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_enforcement_in_the_United_States#Number_of_police https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_enforcement_in_the_United_... [2]: https://www.cfr.org/article/demographics-us-military https://www.cfr.org/article/demographics-us-military [3]: https://www.census.gov/popclock/ https://www.census.gov/popclock/

nickpeterson 6y ago
Most of that military/police population are adult physically able males. The regular population is everyone, if you constrained that population to males/females 18-60 then subtracted the military/police numbers, you’d be closer. It’s probably more like 150:1. Also consider all those officers know how to use weapons, have certain training, it starts to get closer than you think. We have too many police and active military and too many things are illegal that shouldn’t be. The problem is that the military is basically welfare for small towns and southern states.
- scruple 6y ago
  > The problem is that the military is basically welfare for small towns and southern states. Bingo. I served for the financial incentives (though I enlisted from a misguided sense of patriotism immediately after 9/11). My father, my brother, aunts and uncles, and even cousins who served; All of us from small rural towns in the midwest. I needed to obtain the means to pursue higher education and this was my path. What you so succinctly said here is completely spot on.
- jeegsy 6y ago
  > The problem is that the military is basically welfare for small towns and southern states. When I read comments like these, I get a little bit sad. What is it about the ease of communication that the internet enables that people think its ok to say such things? Is this what bravery is in the 21st century? This is a perversion of honesty and people wonder why there is so much division! Our forbears had it right, it really isn't everything that you think that you should say out loud.
  - nojvek 6y ago
    Sure the OP is generalizing, but I don’t think the US military is seen in a positive light. We spend an insane amount of GDP on the military complex. We know for sure military strikes have killed many civilians in other countries. Now with the President’s orders of “Dominate the battle space”, the Military with the police is hurting their own citizens. It’s not about Bravery, the individual soldiers could be brave, but they’re still following directions of superior leaders with personal selfish motives. The military and police are supposed to protect their country and citizens. They are doing the opposite. I don’t respect them.
    - jeegsy 6y ago
      My statement wasn't in defense of the military. Rather it was a defense of my fellow citizens in the south who were unfairly characterized in the parent comment.
  - SAI_Peregrinus 6y ago
    Because it's true. The US military is primarily a jobs program. Very few join because they're brave, most join because joining will pay for college and improve your future job prospects. They're forced to become brave, to avoid poverty.
mcguire 6y ago
Normally, I'm a fan of doing the math... Subtract the population that supports the current police's actions. And the (large majority, I'd guess) that don't care. And the ones that can't physically get involved or won't. Then add a force multiplier for superior training, tactics, organization, and equipment. The result is not a pretty calculation.
- loopz 6y ago
  It's bound to be 50/50, full on confusion, Putin chuckling while 120 guns per 100 people do the job. Instead you can confront the bully. It's been done before.

nickpeterson 6y ago

Most of that military/police population are adult physically able males. The regular population is everyone, if you constrained that population to males/females 18-60 then subtracted the military/police numbers, you’d be closer. It’s probably more like 150:1. Also consider all those officers know how to use weapons, have certain training, it starts to get closer than you think. We have too many police and active military and too many things are illegal that shouldn’t be. The problem is that the military is basically welfare for small towns and southern states.

scruple 6y ago
> The problem is that the military is basically welfare for small towns and southern states. Bingo. I served for the financial incentives (though I enlisted from a misguided sense of patriotism immediately after 9/11). My father, my brother, aunts and uncles, and even cousins who served; All of us from small rural towns in the midwest. I needed to obtain the means to pursue higher education and this was my path. What you so succinctly said here is completely spot on.
jeegsy 6y ago
> The problem is that the military is basically welfare for small towns and southern states. When I read comments like these, I get a little bit sad. What is it about the ease of communication that the internet enables that people think its ok to say such things? Is this what bravery is in the 21st century? This is a perversion of honesty and people wonder why there is so much division! Our forbears had it right, it really isn't everything that you think that you should say out loud.
- nojvek 6y ago
  Sure the OP is generalizing, but I don’t think the US military is seen in a positive light. We spend an insane amount of GDP on the military complex. We know for sure military strikes have killed many civilians in other countries. Now with the President’s orders of “Dominate the battle space”, the Military with the police is hurting their own citizens. It’s not about Bravery, the individual soldiers could be brave, but they’re still following directions of superior leaders with personal selfish motives. The military and police are supposed to protect their country and citizens. They are doing the opposite. I don’t respect them.
  - jeegsy 6y ago
    My statement wasn't in defense of the military. Rather it was a defense of my fellow citizens in the south who were unfairly characterized in the parent comment.
- SAI_Peregrinus 6y ago
  Because it's true. The US military is primarily a jobs program. Very few join because they're brave, most join because joining will pay for college and improve your future job prospects. They're forced to become brave, to avoid poverty.

mcguire 6y ago

Normally, I'm a fan of doing the math... Subtract the population that supports the current police's actions. And the (large majority, I'd guess) that don't care. And the ones that can't physically get involved or won't. Then add a force multiplier for superior training, tactics, organization, and equipment. The result is not a pretty calculation.

loopz 6y ago
It's bound to be 50/50, full on confusion, Putin chuckling while 120 guns per 100 people do the job. Instead you can confront the bully. It's been done before.