> You'd think conservatives would be all for that - smaller state, lower taxes. I think conservatives might get behind defunding the police if those funds were

> You'd think conservatives would be all for that - smaller state, lower taxes. I think conservatives might get behind defunding the police if those funds were routed back to the taxpayer, rather than to expanding social programs -- or any government program, for that matter. Moving money from a strongly conservative part of the government to a strongly leftist part of the government looks too much like a power grab to gain traction with conservatives. You'd also get conservative buy-in if it came with a pro-gun stance. If citizens are going to police their own communities, then they need to have the option to carry and employ arms as necessary for the task. I think there's a lot of opportunity for give-and-take in criminal justice reform -- prisons and drug policy should also be on the table! -- but it requires both sides putting things of equal value on the fire, and I don't see that happening.