@wintermute_oregon I thought the #Democrat party had moved away from the whole #DefundThePolice thing. That died with #BLM. Weird.
“Defund” was taken out of context at the time too in order to write overreactionary stories. While I’m aware some people were full on wanting to abolish the police, they were a tiny minority.
“Defund” literally means “give less funding than before”, which itself I could get behind, considering many location’s budgets are not managed or audited effectively, and I’ve seen first hand in my hometown and other places I’ve lived where they get a huge budget, buy a bunch of shit they don’t need and there’s no tie between budget and performance like literally every other workplace.
Just because people want some fiscal responsibility from law enforcement doesn’t mean they don’t want law enforcement, but the word “defund” has scary connotations and the media leaned into that to protect the boys in blue.
My own brother became a LEO and quit after trying very hard for a couple years to be a force of change, but after seeing the abuse of the system by his fellow officers he eventually left when he realized he was powerless. It was pretty sad, actually. He otherwise loved the job.
https://www.vox.com/2020/6/3/21276824/defund-police-divest-explainer
The movement to defund the police was less to “get rid” of the police and more of a movement to reallocate much of the funds into multiple public service programs. Personally, I’m still cool with that concept. We prioritize the wrong things in the US for the most part.
Rather than buy more weapons and shit for officers who are clearly not always trained appropriately on how to use them, maybe we should direct those funds into programs for mental health, poverty and living assistance, healthcare payment assistance, drug rehabilitation and counseling, and similar public services to provide the public with a better standard of living. It works in other countries, so why not here too?
Nah. They still push the silliness. I know locally there was an attempt to defund the police. It’s why a right wing mayor was elected. People are tired of the crime.
Personally I am for police reform. Typically that would involve more money to the police but focusing on higher standards and training.
They don’t need anymore of our taxes. They need to show actual crime reduction and a reduction of incidents involving excessive/abusive force.
They need better training, less authority and to partner with mental health professionals.
That’s all the calls to defund the police actually wanted: a more effective police force for the dollars spent on them, not shit like this.
It would be so much more beneficial to society to fund our education system and fund rehab clinics and other public services than letting them go HAM on gear.
I want shit like this. Since we live in a republic, I vote for people who make sure the police have the tools to do their job.
Luckily, more people agree with me and less with you. That is why we are seeing more funding for the police in most areas.
It’s a democratic republic. You’re voting democratically for elected representatives.
It’s sad that you’d rather cops have megatrucks instead of children having education, or addicts having help getting off drugs, or for the police to actually be accountable to their effectiveness to determine their budget, like every other profession. More than you can comprehend, man.
What possible job would these cops need that truck for that justifies that price tag?
Funny how the same people who don’t want to pay for education, healthcare, mental health or drug treatment centers, public infrastructure, transportation, post office, or other services we all benefit from having, also simp for a power-tripping police force that wastes taxpayer dollars on shit they don’t need without having to show results of or justify their expenses to said taxpayers.
It’s a fucking racket and it’s not “lucky” that it’s being done in cities. It’s actually a really good way for governments to control their citizens from too much unrest while we continue to have our futures taken from us. The fact that you refuse to see that is the same mental block that keeps you gladly handing more resources and power to them.
This isn’t a political or culture war man, it’s a class war. And you’re helping the wrong class.
I am supporting my class.
Nah. You’re up there but you’re not bezos-level.
To the stupid wealthy you’re no better than the rest of us when society crumbles you’ll be just as fucked as the rest of us.
The only way out is for us to unite on common interests, but conservative media has programmed you too much to be willing to do that.
My interests are keeping addicts in prison and enforcing the laws to keep crime down. I have no interest in treating addicts other than putting them in jail.
We don’t have common interest. Your ideology is what is degrading the country. You expect everyone to give you a handout rather than working for things. It is the major difference between the conservatives and liberals. One ideology is based on earning things and the other is about taking things from others.
Do you live there ?
I did for many years. I left because escalating crime, taxes. Traffic, etc.
Same. Southern California for me. Fuck that shit hole
I enjoyed my time there but I won’t move back. The state is in a meltdown phase. Too expensive, too much crime, too much everything negative.
I was in the bay area for 12 years.
Wow man. Oh yea I know. You’re either rich or fuckin poor in CA no middle class
I was born and raised moved to a red state with actual decent jobs lower cost of living when I was 24 best decision I’ve ever made
I hope you made it to red state that’s taking care of you ❤️ (As in has opportunities, jobs, low cost living, nicer ppl)
I am in a blue state, but thinking of retiring. I am considering moving to Flordia. I am 50 and with the way the blue states want to increase taxes, it’s just better to retire and let them ponder where all the tax revenue went.
Fair. Either way, I wish you well man. ❤️
