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Have you paid attention to what politicians are actually doing? President Biden is pushing for an additional $37 billion in police funding and hiring an additio
by jakelazaroff 4y ago
Have you paid attention to what politicians are actually doing? President Biden is pushing for an additional $37 billion in police funding and hiring an additional 100,000 officers. In my home state, Governor Hochul is emphatically against any sort of defunding and has pledged an additional $50 million to local police departments. NYC Mayor Adams (a former cop) is rabidly pro-police, even though the NYPD are among the worst lawbreakers in the city.
It’s true that Republicans are an order of magnitude more bloodthirsty — which makes the Democrats’ full-throated embrace of carceral policies all the more baffling. If I wanted regressive faux–law and order, why would I vote for them instead of a Republican?
- js2 4y agoI have. The Democratic party is not as progressive as I would like on a whole host of issues (climate, immigration, healthcare, anti-trust, really, you name it). But I also recognize that defunding the police is an incredibly unpopular position even among most Democratic voters. Even in the communities affected most by crime and bad policing[1]. Most people do not want fewer police. They want better police. So the Democrats "embrace policing" because if they don't, they lose elections. Especially with crime on the rise, whether real or perceived. But that doesn't mean that the two parties are the same with respect to policing and I don't think it helps the progressive cause being cynical about it. 1. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/10/26/growing-share-of-americans-say-they-want-more-spending-on-police-in-their-area/ https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/10/26/growing-sha...