3 ms·

Democracy is said to be the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard. However, I note that, from a democratic per

Democracy is said to be the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard. However, I note that, from a democratic perspective, it appears that the broader public does not actually want a reduced police force, and this appears to be true across racial lines[1]. So, let us perhaps say, instead: democracy is the theory that the extremely-online elites and activists know what they want, and that the common people deserve to get it good and hard. 1 - https://news.gallup.com/poll/316571/black-americans-police-retain-local-presence.aspx?utm_source=tagrss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=syndication https://news.gallup.com/poll/316571/black-americans-police-r...

mtrower 5y ago
> So, let us perhaps say, instead: democracy is theory that the extremely-online elites and activists know what they want, and that the common people deserve to get it good and hard. Holding a (small time) elected leadership position, this definitely matches my own observations. I have to deal with the opinions of those I represent on the matters I’m elected to handle quite frequently; the opinions of the few and the loud quite often do not match the opinions and priorities of the majority, but the few and loud do stand out, and the pressure they create gives the illusion of majority opinion. Does this make sense, or am I not expressing myself well?
- recursivedoubts 5y ago
  obnocracy - rule of the most obnoxious?
  - AnimalMuppet 5y ago
    Volumocracy - the rule of the loudest.
- 835Temporary 5y ago
  Interesting. Are you aware of any blog/channel/whatever where I could read honest reports from elected officials on the nuts and bolts of their jobs?
Mediterraneo10 5y ago
It is true that even among minorities support for the existence of an active police force remains high. However, the principles of policing by consent still hold: a community deserves to be policed by police it recognizes as members of that community, not outsiders, and which have the community's best interests at heart. There is still a lot of work to be done in the US regarding these things.
- recursivedoubts 5y ago
  That appears to be a general argument for self-determination or segregation, according to tastes.
  - Mediterraneo10 5y ago
    The concept of policing by consent arose in a city which, at that time in the 19th century, was not riven by racial conflict. To claim that it is an argument for segregation is ahistorical. Self-determination maybe, but the concept was originally put forward in order to improve outcomes, not for the political liberation of the local people per se.
  - lostcolony 5y ago
    No more so than laws about elected officials actually living in the districts they're representing.

mtrower 5y ago

> So, let us perhaps say, instead: democracy is theory that the extremely-online elites and activists know what they want, and that the common people deserve to get it good and hard. Holding a (small time) elected leadership position, this definitely matches my own observations. I have to deal with the opinions of those I represent on the matters I’m elected to handle quite frequently; the opinions of the few and the loud quite often do not match the opinions and priorities of the majority, but the few and loud do stand out, and the pressure they create gives the illusion of majority opinion. Does this make sense, or am I not expressing myself well?

recursivedoubts 5y ago
obnocracy - rule of the most obnoxious?
- AnimalMuppet 5y ago
  Volumocracy - the rule of the loudest.
835Temporary 5y ago
Interesting. Are you aware of any blog/channel/whatever where I could read honest reports from elected officials on the nuts and bolts of their jobs?

Mediterraneo10 5y ago

It is true that even among minorities support for the existence of an active police force remains high. However, the principles of policing by consent still hold: a community deserves to be policed by police it recognizes as members of that community, not outsiders, and which have the community's best interests at heart. There is still a lot of work to be done in the US regarding these things.

recursivedoubts 5y ago
That appears to be a general argument for self-determination or segregation, according to tastes.
- Mediterraneo10 5y ago
  The concept of policing by consent arose in a city which, at that time in the 19th century, was not riven by racial conflict. To claim that it is an argument for segregation is ahistorical. Self-determination maybe, but the concept was originally put forward in order to improve outcomes, not for the political liberation of the local people per se.
- lostcolony 5y ago
  No more so than laws about elected officials actually living in the districts they're representing.