Do leftists hate the police?

[carterstamp]

Originally Posted by case44

It's funny how these liberal extremists want to enforce laws and harbor big government practices from the federal level, but yet don't want local police forces to have power to protect and serve. Strange, but also hypocritical.

Uh huh....

Wow, you guys are parroting RWNJ talking points very well.

[desertdetroiter]

No. But I don't trust them either. If you're not on their side of the blue wall, then neither should you.

Respect them, but don't trust them.

[hifijohn]

I'm not officially a leftists but I dont hate the police, to me they are just civil servants, employees of the tax payers. do your job and protect me.We dont need to praise every time they do what they are suppose to do.Its not an easy job ,Im sure, but there are alot of difficult jobs out there. my dad worked for decades as a steel worker, a job, Im sure, most of you wouldnt last for more than a day but I dont hear anybody worshiping him like we worship the police.

[GregW]

I am, politically and economically, with the exception of the gun control issue, about as far left as anyone on this board. I am friends with our local police chief and know several members of his department. Very skilled and very good cops. I do not expect them to be able to defend me or my house. That is my duty not theirs. I do expect them to collar dangerous drivers, the occasional robber and wife beaters.

I do not hate cops but then I am an older white man in a predominantly white town. If I were a non-white (black, hispanic or asian) in a minority community being exploited as cheap labor and or drug suppliers I would probably fear the police as my enemies. I would not be wrong under the black conditions in Ferguson for example.

[AfriqueNY]

Its just a job man. Its not about like and dislike. Its about survival.

[seain dublin]

Originally Posted by artisan4

My image of the police used to be 'Adam-12' and with experiences in the last couple years has become 'can they be trusted'? And actually it's been right-wing people who have complained to me recently about the police (describing them as 'statist', whatever that means).

Well that's the thing, there are people on both the right and the left who have concerns about how militarized the police have become. Even in these small towns.

You mentioned "Adam 12", well we're a far cry from that now. One poster did a thread awhile back and said how did we go from this(with a picture of the two "Adam 12" actors) to this(with a picture of cops dressed in full gear with assault rifles in front of a Humvee).

There has been a "shift" over the last few years, and lots of people aren't comfortable with it, regardless of whether they're conservative or liberal on other issues.

[Nema98]

No, at least not the average leftist. Just the ones who think they can play God with people's lives.

[totsuka]

It's window dressing. The Liberals love a strong police state and love to use it against their enemies. Obama demanded a separate civilian police force from the military when running in 08. He tipped his hand.

[bluesjuke]

Leftists don't like authority unless they are that authority.

[2e1m5a]

I feel bad for most-they are forced to enforce unjust laws and are used by those in power to keep the poorest and most vulnerable from revolting. Most are good people, and are forced to create a bond among those they work with everyday due to the nature of the job. This creates even more division between them and the citizens they monitor everyday in our poorest communities though.

The longest and costliest war in American history-The War on "Drugs" is a farce and is only fought in poor communities. Money also buys justice in our system so in the off chance someone with means is caught up, they have the resources and connections to fight it.