General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSafety tip from our frenemies at The Lincoln Project: Don't use the phrase "Defund the police."
Rick Wilson thinks it's a right-wing trap.
Link to tweet
Maybe we should change that slogan to "Police the police."
Beakybird
(3,333 posts)Dr. Strange
(25,921 posts)Buns_of_Fire
(17,181 posts)still_one
(92,219 posts)Boxerfan
(2,533 posts)And it is easily better phrased.
Jargon counts for a lot nowadays & keep it simple.
Newest Reality
(12,712 posts)I think that's the correct phrase.
Reformation from the ground up including examination of policies, vetting and other factors. Also, demilitarization is crucial. Enough of the military/Fascist look and feel. We need to pull back and out of a growing "police state" before it gets worse and more out of hand.
We need citizens advisory boards and professional oversight by activist academicians and progressives in the field of police science.
We need to reform the police from the ground up and deal with the negative and toxic impact that the police unions have.
That will take funding, so yes, defund doesn't even really make sense and sounds like a ruse.
democrattotheend
(11,605 posts)TBH, I've been pretty alarmed by the calls to "defund the police." Major police reform is needed, but I don't think eliminating them or cutting their funding is the answer. What is needed is retraining and better hiring practices. What is needed is the "8 Can't Wait" reforms that President Obama and others have been pushing. "Defund the police" just sounds crazy, and I can't help but agree that whoever is pushing that may be trying to sabotage Biden.
Newest Reality
(12,712 posts)I appreciate your input on that.
I guess we will all just have to use our voices when and where we can to point out the absurdity of the term and point it in the right direction, as we have done here.
still_one
(92,219 posts)grantcart
(53,061 posts)jimlup
(7,968 posts)November 3rd will eventually appear on the calendar.
Then we will put this crap behind us.
Corgigal
(9,291 posts)scares law enforcement.
Nationalize the Police.
Breaks apart all these thousands of agencies, takes away local corrupt power.
LEOs have feared it for years.
backscatter712
(26,355 posts)They'll have to face real consequences when they're caught committing abuses.
They're also afraid that some of reforms will include things like taking their military toys away, and with all sorts of reforms designed to break up the toxic bro-culture that seems to infest so many PDs.
Corgigal
(9,291 posts)and they should, because they earned it.
Gore1FL
(21,132 posts)Stinky The Clown
(67,808 posts)GeorgiaPeanut
(360 posts)(It pains me to say that but he is right)
fleur-de-lisa
(14,627 posts)after his horrendous response to Covid-19 and the George Floyd protests.
He plans to pull his base and moderates back toward him by scaring them with this issue.
Lets not give him any ammunition.
mountain grammy
(26,624 posts)way too smart.. But it sure makes this old liberal smile when I see it .
Music Man
(1,184 posts)Way to just hand Trump a talking point.
The discussions that are being had are about transforming what policing looks like: Reform the police. Reinvent policing. Demilitarize the police. And so on. These are winning talking points for a cause that a vast majority of Americans are sympathetic to right now
This feels like a moment we can seize upon. I don't want it to be squandered by impetuous language.
oasis
(49,389 posts)liberalmediaaddict
(766 posts)Rick Wilson has been spot on this whole campaign. His book "Running Against The Devil" is excellent.
Coventina
(27,121 posts)Aussie105
(5,401 posts)Give the police blank bullets. Solves the 'oops, shot the POC!' incidents.
Give them pepper spray devices but no pepper in them.
Give them tazers but no charge in them.
Then, they have to use their manners, wit, and ability to appeal to peoples' better nature to do the right thing.
And the ability to do some non-lethal wrestling, if those don't work, of course.
Wasn't that long ago that UK bobbies and Australian police went on duty without any weapons at all.
(Just the single rifle in the trunk of the squad car, and a direct phone link to special armed squads.)
Unfortunately, Australian police now wear black uniforms and wear utility belts much like the US police. A backward step.
MoonlitKnight
(1,584 posts)How are you different than them?
Yes, work on the message. But WE need to learn about what is being said and make decisions based on facts not fears.
ecstatic
(32,712 posts)Wounded Bear
(58,670 posts)Still Sensible
(2,870 posts)A whole bunch of voters that we need will run from that.
JMHO
Warpy
(111,276 posts)and turn them back into community police, part of the community instead of an unofficial branch of the military.
They've sort of done that here in NM, where they ended civil asset forfeiture by state and local cops. Now the DEA is about the only outfit that can rob you of personal property without charging you with a crime.
I admit it is a counterproductive slogan, but "demilitarize the police" just isn't as catchy. Too bad, because I think a lot of RWNJs might be on board with it.
Nobody with a functioning brain wants to do without some sort of police, the alternative is not generally good when you see it in developing countries. What needs to happen is a sea change that will get them away from Nixon's policy of turning them into a quasi military force because like our present lunatic, he was afraid of a peaceful assembly of mostly children.
LisaM
(27,813 posts)And, I don't think it's exactly what people mean. We can do better.
backscatter712
(26,355 posts)I hear a few saying "We don't mean defund ALL of the police."
Except that's not what FOX "News" will say.
And Uncle Elmer and Aunt Edna will have the nuance go in one ear and out the other.
Bad wording, bad framing. And Rick Wilson and Steve Schmidt are Sith Lords of framing, so we should be taking notes.
"Police the police" is a much better slogan.
Chicago1980
(1,968 posts)Tactical Peek
(1,210 posts)How could anyone object to that?