Fictional and “reality” TV cop shows have led to a society willing to accept violence from the police as standard. It actually isn’t, but it’s become too common, perhaps because cops watch TV too?
As several commentators have noted, it really isn’t so much the cops who directly cause harm. They are relatively rare. What the BIG problem is: The cops who condone, or actively help cover up the crimes. They are every bit as much at fault for the status quo in which so many people think so many cops are bad. Because condoning bad action IS bad.
Peacekeeping as a public service is very different than being an authoritarian judge/jury/predator treating the public as an adversary that must be kept in line.
Reality TV seems to have grown over the years with the increase of cable TV stations. Instead of having only three major networks and one TV set the family would choose a program to watch together. In the early days the television stations would end their broadcasting day about 11:30 PM and sign off the air with a picture of the flag waving in the breeze while the National Anthem played. The earliest cop show I remember was Highway Patrol with the fat, overweight cop always saying “Ten-Four” and looking like a tough law and order guy. Then we had Dragnet with Jack Webb who looked stiff as a board and always saying “Just the facts, mam”. We later had the comic cops on Car 54, Where are You? Sort of the Keystone Cops 2.0 version. All were scripted programs. Now we fast forward to 24 hour viewing, multiple cable stations needing more advertising, and a TV in every room and other devices to watch where ever you maybe. The Golden Age of Television came and left. We now got the real reality police shows like Cops, Bait Car, even Real PD – Live!. These showed entertained us with sometimes a fair share of minorities involved. People watched and liked what they saw. Advertisers liked it too. It was like watching a car race without having to wait for a major crash. Only difference is that we didn’t have characters who had fans that adored them and sent fan mail. Our culture has changed. Kids are educated with TV, Video games, i-Phones, etc. Makes a great babysitter sometimes. Superman fought crime without a gun or a armored vehicle has left the phone booth. Change is the only constant in life it’s said. Change is past due for the way some people view people of color. That’s the reality I want to see today. Yesterday would have been better. I’m not getting any younger and don’t have a “pause” option to wait. Neither do you.
Look at all the pain and struggle that black citizens in South Africa had to go through and endure before they finally got some form of equality. And THEY were in the majority.
30 years later, and the USA is looking sad in comparison…..
As long as cops respond with more brutality when complaints are made about police brutality, we will have more and more problems. Get a load of this: https://tinyurl.com/ydhjmzpe
President Herbert Hoover’s 1928 description of Prohibition as “a great social and economic experiment, noble in motive and far-reaching in purpose” entered the popular lexicon as “the noble experiment.” It was unfortunate for the entire nation that the experiment failed as miserably as it did.On the whole, the initial economic effects of Prohibition were largely negative. The closing of breweries, distilleries and saloons led to the elimination of thousands of jobs, and in turn thousands more jobs were eliminated for barrel makers, truckers, waiters, and other related trades.At the national level, Prohibition cost the federal government a total of $11 billion in lost tax revenue, while costing over $300 million to enforce. The most lasting consequence was that many states and the federal government would come to rely on income tax revenue to fund their budgets going forward.The growth of the illegal liquor trade under Prohibition made criminals of millions of Americans who were tempted by the inflated profits of illegal activity. The trade in unregulated alcohol had serious consequences for public health. As the trade in illegal alcohol became more lucrative, the quality of alcohol on the black market declined. On average, 1000 Americans died every year during the ProhibitionThe effects of Prohibition on law enforcement were also negative. The sums of money being exchanged during the dry era proved a corrupting influence in both the federal Bureau of Prohibition and at the state and local level. Police officers and Prohibition agents alike were frequently tempted by bribes or the lucrative opportunity to go into bootlegging themselves. Many stayed honest, but enough succumbed to the temptation that the stereotype of the corrupt Prohibition agent or local cop undermined public trust in law enforcement for the duration of the era. The jails and courts were overflowing with drug offenders, demanding time that could have been devoted to other crimes.
Now, we need to learn the lesson of prohibition. Cops are spending too much time fighting the drug war. Instead, legalize everything. Let the drug companies produce it. Sell it at cost plus taxes. If the drug lords come up with something popular on the street, legalize and produce that too. History shows that taking the “naughty” factor out of it actually decreases use. Allow sales in bars, pharmacies, so their revenues increase. People gonna do what people gonna do. Give up the “drug war”, reap the tax rewards, cut down on the number of people we are having to feed in jails and put a whole lot of drug dealers out of business.
Dtroutma about 4 years ago
Fictional and “reality” TV cop shows have led to a society willing to accept violence from the police as standard. It actually isn’t, but it’s become too common, perhaps because cops watch TV too?
Concretionist about 4 years ago
As several commentators have noted, it really isn’t so much the cops who directly cause harm. They are relatively rare. What the BIG problem is: The cops who condone, or actively help cover up the crimes. They are every bit as much at fault for the status quo in which so many people think so many cops are bad. Because condoning bad action IS bad.
Daeder about 4 years ago
Everyone knows that law enforcement begins and ends with human rights violations. Especially when we’ve got such a bigly law and order president.
rekam Premium Member about 4 years ago
At least Cauvin is being charged.
sevaar777 about 4 years ago
Mad dog McGruff needs to be put down. Who knew he suffered from rabies after all this time?
superposition about 4 years ago
Peacekeeping as a public service is very different than being an authoritarian judge/jury/predator treating the public as an adversary that must be kept in line.
Ontman about 4 years ago
This is why tRump doesn’t have a dog.
The Love of Money is . . . about 4 years ago
Reality TV seems to have grown over the years with the increase of cable TV stations. Instead of having only three major networks and one TV set the family would choose a program to watch together. In the early days the television stations would end their broadcasting day about 11:30 PM and sign off the air with a picture of the flag waving in the breeze while the National Anthem played. The earliest cop show I remember was Highway Patrol with the fat, overweight cop always saying “Ten-Four” and looking like a tough law and order guy. Then we had Dragnet with Jack Webb who looked stiff as a board and always saying “Just the facts, mam”. We later had the comic cops on Car 54, Where are You? Sort of the Keystone Cops 2.0 version. All were scripted programs. Now we fast forward to 24 hour viewing, multiple cable stations needing more advertising, and a TV in every room and other devices to watch where ever you maybe. The Golden Age of Television came and left. We now got the real reality police shows like Cops, Bait Car, even Real PD – Live!. These showed entertained us with sometimes a fair share of minorities involved. People watched and liked what they saw. Advertisers liked it too. It was like watching a car race without having to wait for a major crash. Only difference is that we didn’t have characters who had fans that adored them and sent fan mail. Our culture has changed. Kids are educated with TV, Video games, i-Phones, etc. Makes a great babysitter sometimes. Superman fought crime without a gun or a armored vehicle has left the phone booth. Change is the only constant in life it’s said. Change is past due for the way some people view people of color. That’s the reality I want to see today. Yesterday would have been better. I’m not getting any younger and don’t have a “pause” option to wait. Neither do you.
Spun_G about 4 years ago
Look at all the pain and struggle that black citizens in South Africa had to go through and endure before they finally got some form of equality. And THEY were in the majority.
30 years later, and the USA is looking sad in comparison…..
944im Premium Member about 4 years ago
well, it appears that the government is now being run like a reality show as well.Who is next off the island?
Dani Rice about 4 years ago
As long as cops respond with more brutality when complaints are made about police brutality, we will have more and more problems. Get a load of this: https://tinyurl.com/ydhjmzpe
Radish the wordsmith about 4 years ago
Cops enforce the law, change the laws.
Andylit Premium Member about 4 years ago
I’ve watched the various body cam videos and the surveillance cam footage.
It appears that the Mayor of Atlanta acted stupidly. Brooks turned and pointed the taser at the cop. It looks like he even fired it.
Diane Lee Premium Member about 4 years ago
President Herbert Hoover’s 1928 description of Prohibition as “a great social and economic experiment, noble in motive and far-reaching in purpose” entered the popular lexicon as “the noble experiment.” It was unfortunate for the entire nation that the experiment failed as miserably as it did.On the whole, the initial economic effects of Prohibition were largely negative. The closing of breweries, distilleries and saloons led to the elimination of thousands of jobs, and in turn thousands more jobs were eliminated for barrel makers, truckers, waiters, and other related trades.At the national level, Prohibition cost the federal government a total of $11 billion in lost tax revenue, while costing over $300 million to enforce. The most lasting consequence was that many states and the federal government would come to rely on income tax revenue to fund their budgets going forward.The growth of the illegal liquor trade under Prohibition made criminals of millions of Americans who were tempted by the inflated profits of illegal activity. The trade in unregulated alcohol had serious consequences for public health. As the trade in illegal alcohol became more lucrative, the quality of alcohol on the black market declined. On average, 1000 Americans died every year during the ProhibitionThe effects of Prohibition on law enforcement were also negative. The sums of money being exchanged during the dry era proved a corrupting influence in both the federal Bureau of Prohibition and at the state and local level. Police officers and Prohibition agents alike were frequently tempted by bribes or the lucrative opportunity to go into bootlegging themselves. Many stayed honest, but enough succumbed to the temptation that the stereotype of the corrupt Prohibition agent or local cop undermined public trust in law enforcement for the duration of the era. The jails and courts were overflowing with drug offenders, demanding time that could have been devoted to other crimes.
Diane Lee Premium Member about 4 years ago
Now, we need to learn the lesson of prohibition. Cops are spending too much time fighting the drug war. Instead, legalize everything. Let the drug companies produce it. Sell it at cost plus taxes. If the drug lords come up with something popular on the street, legalize and produce that too. History shows that taking the “naughty” factor out of it actually decreases use. Allow sales in bars, pharmacies, so their revenues increase. People gonna do what people gonna do. Give up the “drug war”, reap the tax rewards, cut down on the number of people we are having to feed in jails and put a whole lot of drug dealers out of business.