Closing Thought–24Jun20
This one term has had a profound effect on the psyche of Americans….from reforms and change to they want to disband the police…..
In my opinion it is the worse possible term to use at this time in our evolving history.
Sorry to my die hard “law and order” readers but the police needs to change……they no long protect and serve but rather look like they are there to “punish and enslave”…..
But is there a way that a my responsive police department can be resurrected from the ruins of their history?
The vague and easily misinterpreted call to Defund the Police has been spreading quickly across the USA. Some may have a knee-jerk reaction to “just say no” to this call, but polls show a vast majority of Americans are concerned about improving the lives of people of color across the country. Reforms such as teaching police to de-escalate conflicts and enforcement of body camera use have support of about 90% of Americans. So, what could solutions to the current situation look like, how could they be paid for, and should relative costs realistically be coming out of police budgets?
Here are some steps you can take to make a difference:
educate yourself about public budgets, and how they can be improved
find out where and when relevant decisions are made, go there and be vocal
influence the media by writing to the press, being active on social media
mobilize your family and friends to take action with you
ensure that alternative solutions are created, proposed, and heard
Why and How to Defund the Police
I wrote about this on my op-ed blog, Gulf South Free Press……https://gulfsouthfreepress.wordpress.com/2020/06/11/what-does-de-fund-mean/
For example……how much has been given to PDs in military stuff?
According to a CNN analysis of federal data, the Department of Defense (DoD) has sent at least $760 million worth of military equipment to local law enforcement agencies since August 2017. This includes $5.3 million of gear used to quell protests, such as riot shields, gas masks, tasers, and other materials local law enforcement requested for “crowd control.”
Across the country, more than 8,000 police departments have been suppled with such equipment, at no cost, through the 1033 program, which allows the DoD to donate surplus combat material to law enforcement agencies.
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/06/24/pros-j24.html
That needs to cease NOW!
Society cannot wait any longer….police reform is needed now and any postponement will only matter matters worse the next time.
Citizens want reform and change now….and they have taken to the streets….
The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research surveyed 1,301 adults between June 11 and 15 and found majorities “overwhelmingly” in favor of a number of proposed reforms to the U.S. policing system.
Nearly nine in 10 Americans are calling for requirements that police officers use body cameras and 86% say clear standards must be established and enforced regarding the use of force by police. Just five years ago, Americans were far less likely to say police violence was a serious problem facing the country.
Not to be outdone the Dems have offered up a cosmetic bill of reforms…..
The Democrats have offered up their own slate of cosmetic changes largely mirroring Trump’s, including banning chokeholds and creating a national database of abusive officers, while also explicitly rejecting the demand, popular among protestors, to “defund” the police. Former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democrats’ presumptive presidential nominee, has called for $300 million in additional federal funding to shore up police departments across the country, while Senator Bernie Sanders has said that cops need to be paid higher salaries.
Such measures will amount to less than nothing. They might as well propose to change the color of police uniforms. Inevitably, “reforms” from these representatives of the ruling class will end up strengthening the police.
If you would like more information on this subject then there are a couple of articles that could assist you…..
https://www.vox.com/2020/6/14/21290877/democrats-defund-police-omar-clyburn
I Read, I Write, You Know
“lego ergo scribo”
In Saner Thought 
Rather than de-fund police departments, perhaps take over how they spend their money. Put less into military gear and armoured vehicles, more into training, and monitoring performance. Then think about making it a ‘national’ police force, with no elected sheriffs or county cops getting a job they have no experience of. Initiate a standardised training programme and equipment issue, as well as instantly reognisable uniforms that are the same in the whole country. Just some thoughts…
Best wishes, Pete.
Obviously, I agree with Pete; however, the phrase “less into military gear” doesn’t even begin to cover it. A complete “demilitarization” of local police departments is absolutely required, as well as the total squashing of all hyper-militarized tactics and mindsets that have accompanied the implementation of such equipment. Training needs to be completely re-evaluated, along with, specifically, the training of local police sent by way of privately-funded junkets to Israel, in conjunction with the policies of the occupying force known as the IDF (should be IOF) which routinely practices brutal military tactics on an indigenous population. However, Americans don’t even know about this routine practice, let alone how the unconstitutional Department of Homeland Security functions and further ramps up the fraudulent “war on terror” mentality. Nor do they seem capable of responding to any misinformation disseminated by the establishment mainstream media, when it’s not omitted entirely. In my (sadly discouraging) opinion, nothing will improve. Biden (a self-proclaimed “zionist” and politically-motivated advocate of tougher measures against crime); Bernie (a corporate shill and sheepdog for the establishment Democrats); and certainly Trump (a complete sell-out to the apartheid state) have no intention of endorsing anything but the most superficial and politically-motivated adjustments to police policy.
I fear the bond between the US and Israel will never be broken in my lifetime, not even ‘stretched’. The attachment goes too deep.
Like I said a commission to study the problem is inaction…just a call for pacification….chuq
I agree with each and every one…..more time and cash spent on education and training….chuq
Everything that Pete said!
Yes a good list indeed. chuq
Nothing will change until the war on drug is abolished, much like Prohibition was abolished.
The war on drugs is like pour gasoline on the fires of police militarization.
Why is no one talking about this?
3.2 Billion In Cash Removed From Innocent People In Decade – Civil Forfeiture Law Is Unconstitutional – Greed Is Now Motivation For Police Seizing Property, Homes And Cash – Unconstitutional, Illegal Anti-Drug Laws Have Morphed USS Into Fascist Police State – War On Drugs Is Racist
https://www.agreenroadjournal.com/2015/07/civil-forfeiture-law-is.html
People know little of this because the media is ignoring it. chuq