Ricki Yasha TarrSep 17, 2024

I'm going to say something unpopular, and if you really don't like it, that's fine, you can block me. I understand.

Just because someone is a cop or served in the military doesn't make them a bad guy. It is illogical to assume that just because someone ends up working in a corrupt system that they are corrupt. There are a million reasons people can work a job. This is akin to telling someone who works in a retail store that they are a responsible for Unregulated Capitalism. Believe me, we want decent people in these places. Police and military aren't going to disappear just because we don't like it. Creating enemies of people, because of circumstances is not only a shit thing to do, it polarizes people against our goals. We remember the people are kind to us. Yes, the system is broken and corrupt, but so are most systems, treating people poorly isn't the answer.

Show threadThomas Franklin William ArnoldSep 17, 2024
@RickiTarr I don't automatically assume all cops are bad, but I do keep in mind that they absolutely *might* be, until I can gauge them. And this is coming from a straight white guy, so I completely understand why people who might be victimized by police are immediately suspicious. But I agree, there are good people who become cops, and we need that.
Show threadRicki Yasha TarrSep 17, 2024
@Tom Oh definitely, I try to judge on a person by person basis, but I certainly am wary.
Show threadThomas Franklin William ArnoldSep 17, 2024

@RickiTarr And you know who I blame for that? The police unions. They're the ones who won't let bad cops get fired.

And so they stay on the force, with no accountability, no consequences, and gravitate towards other people who have no business being cops.

And when they realize they can do whatever they want to whomever they want, they *do it*. If bad cops could simply be fired, things would be a million times better. Those people would still be asshole abusers, but they wouldn't have power.

Show threadProfessor_StevensSep 17, 2024

@Tom @RickiTarr

Note that the military is not unionized. Police forces are mostly corrupt. The military, not so much.

Show threadThomas Franklin William ArnoldSep 17, 2024
@Professor_Stevens @RickiTarr Police unions are a different animal than other unions. Don't make the mistake of equating them.
Show threadProfessor_StevensSep 18, 2024

@Tom @RickiTarr

Oh, don't worry that I will. I am pro-union. But this item began by lumping cops and soldiers together. I think that was a bad idea. One reason is that the police unions fight like hell to keep bad cops on the job. There's no union at all for soldiers, most of whom are pretty decent folk.

But, yes, important to make clear the most unions don't give cover to bad actors. They have enough to do just fighting with bad employers.

Show threadThomas Franklin William ArnoldSep 18, 2024
@Professor_Stevens @RickiTarr OK, good. I was concerned that you were saying unions = corruption.
Show threadProfessor_Stevens

@Tom @RickiTarr

Oh my, no. Thanks for the assist!

Sep 18, 2024 at 1:55amWeb