• shalafi@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    3
    arrow-down
    11
    ·
    1 year ago

    So we pull the plug on police unions? On what legal grounds, what precedent? We would almost have to make law enforcement a distinct class of citizen.

    And for the record, I believe they are a different class of citizen and I believe they should be held to higher standards. And yes, if I had my druthers, that distinction would be written into law, perhaps even on a federal level.

    But how do we legislate that? Also, if we do this thing, it’s going to cost a mountain of political capital. “Defund the police” is the dumbest political slogan I’ve ever heard in life. The idea is rock solid, the soundbite ain’t. Now imagine trying to push legislation that pulls the teeth on cops.

    Maybe my premise was dumb, but I want to explore solutions. Been pushed around, jailed and had my ass beaten by cops with utter impunity. And I’m a white guy! Imagine how this shit goes for others.

    • Syringe@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      7
      ·
      1 year ago

      I like the idea of making cops carry insurance. Too many incidents and their premiums go up or they get dropped. This also pushes the costs off of the taxpayers when these incidents happen.

      I’m sure there are issues with this approach though

      • Doug Holland@lemmy.worldOP
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        5
        arrow-down
        4
        ·
        1 year ago

        I love the idea, and see it as the most workable way to bring police under some kind of genuine public control.

        Probably the only issue with it is that the cops and their unions would be opposed. They’d shout loudly that it’ll lead to mayhem in the street, rape and pillage, gang warfare, anarchy, human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria, etc.

    • PunnyName@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      Police as a whole need to be gutted. It’s a body of force that is largely unnecessary and reactive. They are not a useful arm of public safety. They are an arm of force.

      If you want crime to drop, invest in public health, housing, minimum wages, education, and other social safety nets. Then police can be used as an arm for the rare circumstances that force and punishment would actually be needed for.

      Right now, police are a massive taxpayer funded powerhouse with virtually no oversight, carte blanche to fucking KILL, and have extremely low repercussions for abuse of their power.

      Fuck the police.