“…where there is no Law, there is no Freedom.”
–John Locke
Extremism on the far right or the far left is wrong and should be denounced. On this, I think most reasonable people would agree. The very term suggests a position far outside the mainstream of thought, be it with regard to government, politics, science, economics, or religion. I don’t know about you, but I worry about people who think they have all the answers, as that mindset is not given to the notion of engagement in reasonable debate. They are the people who are willing to listen to us only as long as we agree with what they believe.
One could argue that our country was founded by extremists. True, in the sense they revolted against a tyrannical monarchy. As opposed to the Jacobins, a radical political movement formed in the wake of the French Revolution, our founders declared “…all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” After almost 250 years, we still struggle and work to achieve that, but it is a noble cause worthy of pursuit.
The tenets of our Declaration are without foundation if there is no law. The rule of law codifies the structure under which our citizens live. Without it, we lose our civil blueprint, our safety, and potentially our lives. Laws, however, are empty words if there is no one to enforce them. We need law enforcement officers, judges, and courts to ensure equal protection, another worthy pursuit.
It’s incomprehensible to me that there are serious discussions about defunding the police or, as the politically correct euphemistically call it, a re-allocation of police funding. This year in cities throughout the country, we’ve seen what happens when areas are taken captive by rioters, and police officers are told to stand down. Chaos. The absence of law enforcement encourages the worst instincts in some people who have a wanton disregard for the property and safety of our citizens.
The vast majority of police officers are good and honorable people, who deserve our support, not our condemnation. Consider this. In 2019, about 3 in every 1,000 Black homicides were committed by the police. Why is it that, outside of their families and their personal spheres of influence, no one cries out for, or marches for, the other 997? In fact, most of the 3 in 1,000 never come to public attention because they are legally justified. The few cases that result in protest marches and/or violence are egregious acts perpetrated by law enforcement officers. Why does that matter? Simply because we expect more of our police–we hold them to a higher standard because they take an oath to enforce our laws. While we accord them the high respect they deserve, we must also hold them accountable when they abrogate the authority vested in them. What happened to George Floyd was awful, and should never happen again. The video recording of the officer perpetrating that heinous act justifiably caused a nationwide backlash. Those rare instances when police officers abuse their authority should be investigated to the fullest extent, prosecuted, and adjudicated by our system of justice, not on streets blazing in flames and littered with glass and debris from damaged property or, worse yet, dead bodies.
Recently, Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer unwittingly played a key role in a nefarious plot concocted by right-wing extremists to kidnap her and privately try her for treason. Federal agents detected the plot and averted what would have been a nightmare for the governor, her state, and our country. Ironically, the Michigan Supreme Court had just ruled she acted illegally in renewing Michigan’s quarantine every 28 days without consulting the legislature, as state law requires. So, her abuse of power was handled in a legal manner, and the efficient measures of federal law enforcement foiled the extremists’ efforts. It’s as simple as good versus evil, the rule of law versus tyranny.
I am optimistic that law and order will prevail. Defund the police? Ridiculous! I’m hopeful that, if anything, we increase funding for our law enforcement officers. After all, is there anyone you’d rather see when you’re in an automobile accident, there’s a threat to your personal property, or you fear for your life?
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“…where there is no Law, there is no Freedom.”
–John Locke
Extremism on the far right or the far left is wrong and should be denounced. On this, I think most reasonable people would agree. The very term suggests a position far outside the mainstream of thought, be it with regard to government, politics, science, economics, or religion. I don’t know about you, but I worry about people who think they have all the answers, as that mindset is not given to the notion of engagement in reasonable debate. They are the people who are willing to listen to us only as long as we agree with what they believe.
One could argue that our country was founded by extremists. True, in the sense they revolted against a tyrannical monarchy. As opposed to the Jacobins, a radical political movement formed in the wake of the French Revolution, our founders declared “…all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” After almost 250 years, we still struggle and work to achieve that, but it is a noble cause worthy of pursuit.
The tenets of our Declaration are without foundation if there is no law. The rule of law codifies the structure under which our citizens live. Without it, we lose our civil blueprint, our safety, and potentially our lives. Laws, however, are empty words if there is no one to enforce them. We need law enforcement officers, judges, and courts to ensure equal protection, another worthy pursuit.
It’s incomprehensible to me that there are serious discussions about defunding the police or, as the politically correct euphemistically call it, a re-allocation of police funding. This year in cities throughout the country, we’ve seen what happens when areas are taken captive by rioters, and police officers are told to stand down. Chaos. The absence of law enforcement encourages the worst instincts in some people who have a wanton disregard for the property and safety of our citizens.
The vast majority of police officers are good and honorable people, who deserve our support, not our condemnation. Consider this. In 2019, about 3 in every 1,000 Black homicides were committed by the police. Why is it that, outside of their families and their personal spheres of influence, no one cries out for, or marches for, the other 997? In fact, most of the 3 in 1,000 never come to public attention because they are legally justified. The few cases that result in protest marches and/or violence are egregious acts perpetrated by law enforcement officers. Why does that matter? Simply because we expect more of our police–we hold them to a higher standard because they take an oath to enforce our laws. While we accord them the high respect they deserve, we must also hold them accountable when they abrogate the authority vested in them. What happened to George Floyd was awful, and should never happen again. The video recording of the officer perpetrating that heinous act justifiably caused a nationwide backlash. Those rare instances when police officers abuse their authority should be investigated to the fullest extent, prosecuted, and adjudicated by our system of justice, not on streets blazing in flames and littered with glass and debris from damaged property or, worse yet, dead bodies.
Recently, Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer unwittingly played a key role in a nefarious plot concocted by right-wing extremists to kidnap her and privately try her for treason. Federal agents detected the plot and averted what would have been a nightmare for the governor, her state, and our country. Ironically, the Michigan Supreme Court had just ruled she acted illegally in renewing Michigan’s quarantine every 28 days without consulting the legislature, as state law requires. So, her abuse of power was handled in a legal manner, and the efficient measures of federal law enforcement foiled the extremists’ efforts. It’s as simple as good versus evil, the rule of law versus tyranny.
I am optimistic that law and order will prevail. Defund the police? Ridiculous! I’m hopeful that, if anything, we increase funding for our law enforcement officers. After all, is there anyone you’d rather see when you’re in an automobile accident, there’s a threat to your personal property, or you fear for your life?
8 Comments
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Val Demings is one of my most treasured experts on law enforcement – she is a former Chief of Police and current Rep. in the U.S. House. I would welcome more investments in law enforcement along the lines she proposes: “As a nation, we must conduct a serious review of hiring standards and practices, diversity, training, use-of-force policies, pay and benefits (remember, you get what you pay for), early warning programs, and recruit training programs. Remember, officers who train police recruits are setting the standard for what is acceptable and unacceptable on the street.” (Ref: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/05/29/my-fellow-brothers-sisters-blue-what-earth-are-you-doing/)
Your readers might be interested in completing the Community (or Citizens) Police Academy hosted by their local PD. I participated in our City’s 12-week course for residents/taxpayers interested in how law enforcement operationalizes priorities. One thing (out of many) I learned was the degree to which police funding in my locality was already inclusive of mental health interventions and other progressive programs that were reducing crime. These tactics are not ridiculous as they directly improve the quality of life for all. My local PD was an early adopter of the recommendations issued by the 2015 Presidential Commission on 21st Century Policing (ref: https://cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/taskforce/taskforce_finalreport.pdf) and continues to seriously consider and implement new policy solutions informed by research and data. Americans would do better to understand policing – we could certainly improve in listening and learning from one another overall! – and to work with their local LEOs and elected officials to understand what effective policing can look like. Use of force, for example, is a complex topic with many components. One thing I like about Campaign Zero is that they provide examples of PD policies from across the country (ref: https://www.joincampaignzero.org/force).
Thanks for the pondering-over-coffee material! I’d love to see link-outs where you mention stats or quotes in your posts, btw. It would allow those of us who are passionate about the blog topic to do further reading. :)
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Well-written, my friend! I totally agree. The absence of laws and their enforcement results in total chaos and destruction on many levels. I pray daily that we, the American people, will open our eyes to the truth and put God back in the center of our lives on all levels.
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another well thought out post
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Tim :Great post on law and order One thing you might consider is how the media keeps certain stories alive but drops others For examplevWhat ever happened in case where the teenagers robbed and killed the young college student in morning side park New York City last year Have also noticed limited coverage of Portland and Seattle. riots leading up to election Thanks for writing Jim
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In the second sentence you some everything up with the term “reasonable people”.
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Tim. I’ve enjoyed reading your Tuesday Thoughts and mostly completely agree with the rest for me to ponder. Especially love this Law & Order piece. Without it we’re Anarchy & Disorder – not a way for the America of now or in the future to live free & flourish.
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Another great one Tim! I agree totally.
Liberty and a Justice for All! Law and Order is a right we all deserve.
This year has been an real eye opener as to how big the divide is in this Country….looting, rioting, shootings, ….police told to stand down by Government officials! We need to get our Country and our values back…the best way..Vote. It’s the best we can do for ourselves! Amen!
Val Demings is one of my most treasured experts on law enforcement – she is a former Chief of Police and current Rep. in the U.S. House. I would welcome more investments in law enforcement along the lines she proposes: “As a nation, we must conduct a serious review of hiring standards and practices, diversity, training, use-of-force policies, pay and benefits (remember, you get what you pay for), early warning programs, and recruit training programs. Remember, officers who train police recruits are setting the standard for what is acceptable and unacceptable on the street.” (Ref: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/05/29/my-fellow-brothers-sisters-blue-what-earth-are-you-doing/)
Your readers might be interested in completing the Community (or Citizens) Police Academy hosted by their local PD. I participated in our City’s 12-week course for residents/taxpayers interested in how law enforcement operationalizes priorities. One thing (out of many) I learned was the degree to which police funding in my locality was already inclusive of mental health interventions and other progressive programs that were reducing crime. These tactics are not ridiculous as they directly improve the quality of life for all. My local PD was an early adopter of the recommendations issued by the 2015 Presidential Commission on 21st Century Policing (ref: https://cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/taskforce/taskforce_finalreport.pdf) and continues to seriously consider and implement new policy solutions informed by research and data. Americans would do better to understand policing – we could certainly improve in listening and learning from one another overall! – and to work with their local LEOs and elected officials to understand what effective policing can look like. Use of force, for example, is a complex topic with many components. One thing I like about Campaign Zero is that they provide examples of PD policies from across the country (ref: https://www.joincampaignzero.org/force).
Thanks for the pondering-over-coffee material! I’d love to see link-outs where you mention stats or quotes in your posts, btw. It would allow those of us who are passionate about the blog topic to do further reading. :)
Great idea!
Well-written, my friend! I totally agree. The absence of laws and their enforcement results in total chaos and destruction on many levels. I pray daily that we, the American people, will open our eyes to the truth and put God back in the center of our lives on all levels.
another well thought out post
Tim :Great post on law and order One thing you might consider is how the media keeps certain stories alive but drops others For examplevWhat ever happened in case where the teenagers robbed and killed the young college student in morning side park New York City last year Have also noticed limited coverage of Portland and Seattle. riots leading up to election Thanks for writing Jim
In the second sentence you some everything up with the term “reasonable people”.
Tim. I’ve enjoyed reading your Tuesday Thoughts and mostly completely agree with the rest for me to ponder. Especially love this Law & Order piece. Without it we’re Anarchy & Disorder – not a way for the America of now or in the future to live free & flourish.
Another great one Tim! I agree totally.
Liberty and a Justice for All! Law and Order is a right we all deserve.
This year has been an real eye opener as to how big the divide is in this Country….looting, rioting, shootings, ….police told to stand down by Government officials! We need to get our Country and our values back…the best way..Vote. It’s the best we can do for ourselves! Amen!