Iris lilies, how are things in your hood?

[creaker]

Blend in a healthy dose of glee at "large settlements", sprinkle with "thirst for vengeance", stir in some "lasting economic damage" and finish with a little "terror of bankruptcy", and you have Rob's World, where neighbors never call the police except maybe to fill out insurance forms, and community policing rules the day (along with community firefighting, and community EMS services, as nobody will bother showing up anymore to a call, even from a crowd-sourced social justice cell phone network.)

Behold the future:

http://www.digitaltrends.com/photogr...ay-of-detroit/

I've "walked" through parts of Detroit using Google Maps streetview - it's much more real when a photographer isn't cherry picking spots for you.

[LDAHL]

Blend in a healthy dose of glee at "large settlements", sprinkle with "thirst for vengeance", stir in some "lasting economic damage" and finish with a little "terror of bankruptcy", and you have Rob's World, where neighbors never call the police except maybe to fill out insurance forms, and community policing rules the day (along with community firefighting, and community EMS services, as nobody will bother showing up anymore to a call, even from a crowd-sourced social justice cell phone network.)

Behold the future:

http://www.digitaltrends.com/photogr...ay-of-detroit/

But if there's no faith in the criminal justice system to hold criminal cops to account, why is there so much faith in the civil courts to punish taxpayers by proxy?

[gimmethesimplelife]

But if there's no faith in the criminal justice system to hold criminal cops to account, why is there so much faith in the civil courts to punish taxpayers by proxy?

Because unfortunately the only way to affect change in America is via staggering financial loss - I don't hold that this is true 100% of the time but as for the police, I don't know of any other way to curb their behavior so as to confine them to what the law allows. Also large settlements inspire other victims to sue so it becomes a continuous cycle of hope and potential renewal until something caves and hopefully, the police will eventually be forced to do their jobs and not behave as if above the law. Until such a date, let's cheer on those who are able to reap windfalls due to illegal police behavior. Rob

[gimmethesimplelife]

Blend in a healthy dose of glee at "large settlements", sprinkle with "thirst for vengeance", stir in some "lasting economic damage" and finish with a little "terror of bankruptcy", and you have Rob's World, where neighbors never call the police except maybe to fill out insurance forms, and community policing rules the day (along with community firefighting, and community EMS services, as nobody will bother showing up anymore to a call, even from a crowd-sourced social justice cell phone network.)

Behold the future:

http://www.digitaltrends.com/photogr...ay-of-detroit/

When face with what the police get away with in lower income American neighborhoods, the recipe you detail above is one of hope and potential renewal for those living in such neighborhoods. And yes, America is truly that horrible for some of it's citizens/legal residents. Until such a date as this reality is accepted by society at large, this recipe will be continue to be served on daily basis throughout America lower income neighborhoods. Can't deal with it? Don't add to it then by giving the police a free pass and by auto-siding with them and help by ALWAYS questioning any action taken by them until just cause is established. Rob

[gimmethesimplelife]

Where is all this pension envy coming from?

To give police a pension when they are guilty of illegal assault/attacks on innocent people? Never has enough money been printed for an adequate settlement for so many US victims of illegal police behavior and YET THEY STILL GET A PENSION? Do you see anything way off base on this at all? I sure do. From miles and miles and miles away. Rob

[iris lilies]

"Everyone Goes Home" - not just pretty words.

Through the ongoing protests in Ferguson, whiners refuse to give recognition to the fact that while police have been on duty straight for many weeks, there have been no injuries or loss of life since Mike Brown was killed. Yet there are the cops holding back crowds, making physical arrests, keeping traffic pathways clear, making efforts to protect citizens and businesses from the protestors who continue to stir up trouble after curfew.

Complainypants drama queens refuse to recognize that "Everyone Going Home" is actually a pretty big accomplishment given this scenario: 7+ weeks of cops arresting people, moving them along and keeping traffic paths clear and businesses (kinda/sorta) safe. It would be easy to have a physical altercation of substance with the childlike goons in the streets, given their non-compliance with just about anything and their demands for what, exactly, I haven't figured out. They are losing ground with the opinions of reasonable people who were a whole lot more sympathetic than I was towards them weeks ago.

Paying attention to (potential) loss of civil rights is important, but these protestors aren't representing that issue with any gravitas.

[LDAHL]

Because unfortunately the only way to affect change in America is via staggering financial loss - I don't hold that this is true 100% of the time but as for the police, I don't know of any other way to curb their behavior so as to confine them to what the law allows. Also large settlements inspire other victims to sue so it becomes a continuous cycle of hope and potential renewal until something caves and hopefully, the police will eventually be forced to do their jobs and not behave as if above the law. Until such a date, let's cheer on those who are able to reap windfalls due to illegal police behavior. Rob

But if you're convinced that what you view as justice is impossible through the criminal courts, why are you so sure that the civil courts will deliver it?

[gimmethesimplelife]

But if you're convinced that what you view as justice is impossible through the criminal courts, why are you so sure that the civil courts will deliver it?

i'm not sure. But large settlements have taken place in the not so recent past and with the advent of social media and all the anger that is present out there in the lower social classes towards the United States and everything it stands for these days - it's only common sense that the courts will grant settlements as if they don't, the whole thing could explode and the reality of America could sift upwards through the social classes more than it already has. I'm not sure society wants that just yet - too many people unanchored with nothing really to lose does not for calm and stable conditions make. Rob

[Alan]

i'm not sure. But large settlements have taken place in the not so recent past and with the advent of social media and all the anger that is present out there in the lower social classes towards the United States and everything it stands for these days - it's only common sense that the courts will grant settlements as if they don't, the whole thing could explode and the reality of America could sift upwards through the social classes more than it already has. I'm not sure society wants that just yet - too many people unanchored with nothing really to lose does not for calm and stable conditions make. Rob

I hate to think about a country where civil & criminal law were based upon the vagaries of social media and emotional rantings. If you fear the police now, just wait until the mob gets its sights on you.

Common sense is not the phrase I'd use when discussing court decisions based upon your criteria.

[flowerseverywhere]

I have been thinking about your response when you posted even if a young woman was being gang raped or an elderly man was being beaten and robbed, you would not call 911. How do you get teachers to come into the schools? And merchants to open stores. Or visiting nurses to come help the sick? Or physician offices to open in the neighborhood?

I can can imagine with the scenario you have painted the police force is not going to send in Mayberry RFD when their is a problem. They would be eaten alive in five minutes.