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I think it's important not to hate the police. If there are problems with the system, it's the laws that need to be changed. We're seeing that right now with ma

I think it's important not to hate the police. If there are problems with the system, it's the laws that need to be changed. We're seeing that right now with marijuana laws, and it is having an impact. We can do the same by at least offering better programs for people arrested for meth/opioids. More free treatment. If they fail out, fine, go back to the jail route, but give people a chance to at least try and choose. The police do take a lot of money, but we're also seeing more money go to teachers/schools, working-class city workers (garbage, sewer, public works). That's not always a bad thing, but if you break down the numbers, you can often find corruption everywhere (like a school district superintendent taking like a $300k income). I think the focus on police is the wrong policy choice right now. That's not the core issue. It's everything else.

Nasrudith 6y ago
The police have frankly earned every last scintillia of their hatred from their actions and lack of accountability. We don't accept a rapist or fraudster blaming society for the damage they do to get the sex or money they want and we should certainly hold actual authorities to higher standards instead of lower ones. The system being messed up does not negate their own moral agency and deriliction from it. To acquit them is even worse than even "just following orders" but an utterly insane "it is unfair that I am being judged by the intentions and outcomes of my actions taken on my own initiative".
- Vysero 6y ago
  First of all: "The police have frankly earned every last scintillia of their hatred from their actions and lack of accountability." Is just ignorant. The VAST majority of police are wonderful people who have dedicated their lives to helping others. Secondly, you have no idea what the stakes are for anyone who is following orders, and it could vary from: none at all too: not being able to pay for their child's leukemia treatments.
  - jdashg 6y ago
    Wow, no, following orders for a paycheck isn't acceptable. I think most of us felt that was definitively decided at Nuremberg. There are many other ways to get a paycheck that don't involve, well, all that we keep seeing on the news.
    - newen 6y ago
      Thank you. I see too many "I was just following orders" arguments in the internet.

Nasrudith 6y ago

The police have frankly earned every last scintillia of their hatred from their actions and lack of accountability. We don't accept a rapist or fraudster blaming society for the damage they do to get the sex or money they want and we should certainly hold actual authorities to higher standards instead of lower ones. The system being messed up does not negate their own moral agency and deriliction from it. To acquit them is even worse than even "just following orders" but an utterly insane "it is unfair that I am being judged by the intentions and outcomes of my actions taken on my own initiative".

Vysero 6y ago
First of all: "The police have frankly earned every last scintillia of their hatred from their actions and lack of accountability." Is just ignorant. The VAST majority of police are wonderful people who have dedicated their lives to helping others. Secondly, you have no idea what the stakes are for anyone who is following orders, and it could vary from: none at all too: not being able to pay for their child's leukemia treatments.
- jdashg 6y ago
  Wow, no, following orders for a paycheck isn't acceptable. I think most of us felt that was definitively decided at Nuremberg. There are many other ways to get a paycheck that don't involve, well, all that we keep seeing on the news.
  - newen 6y ago
    Thank you. I see too many "I was just following orders" arguments in the internet.