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Mr 5 0 · 05-10-2002, 09:19 PM

PKRWUD:

Glad you decided to 'take the bait'. How's it taste?

Get over it? That sum up your argument? O.K.

Personally, I have no trouble with the police and haven't received a ticket in 11 years. I have nothing to 'get over'.

I consider cops to be very necessary, as I've stated numerous times here, but I also consider them to be dangerous as they have immense power to make your life very unpleasant should they wish to do so, regardless of your 'guilt'. I accept that risk as part of the social contract 'The Duece' alluded to. The police protect me - to a point - and I accept the slight risk of being the victim of police abuse on occasion (it hasn't happened yet). Keeps me honest.

The whole convenience store clerk vs cop argument came into play as a simple comparison to make the point that the cops who are injured 'in the line of duty' are fewer in number than convenience store clerks who are injured in their line of duty (giving you the wrong change).

Chris, surely you (and elliotness) realized that the clerk's job wasn't being directly compared to the cop's job. I only used the comparative statistics to help illuminate the fact that a lot of people are killed or injured doing their job. Cops are not immune or somehow unique in this regard, they simply are better recognized.

I do not accept the premise that since police work is dangerous (granted, many times) cops get a pass on any stupid thing they do to harrass motorists. Nope, not by me they don't. They are accountable, at least in theory, and the constant assertions that cops are somehow superior beings that deserve more leeway than others due to the danger of the job they volunteer to do doesn't work for me. It's irrevelant to the issue of police officers acting - as the thread topic stated - stupidly.

Many cops are downright heroic at times but some small-town cops would be working an assembly line or bagging groceries somewhere if they didn't get on the force. They are not all noble. Some are corrupt as hell and some are actively working with criminals in the drug trade. Scandals erupt in cities and towns across the nation every month regarding police malfeasence. It's a fact that can't be denied.

That's changing, I admit, but the Barney Fifes are still out there and there are many locations where traffic police patrols serve mostly to generate income from traffic tickets they give out for minor or trivial violations. That stinks and it's the fault of both the politicians that encourage it and the cops that willingly engage in the corrupt practice.

Saying 'it's the law' misses the point that it's a misuse of the law to stop people for tinted glass or exhaust noise that endangers no one and bothers no one but the cop, then to issue possibly expensive citations for these minor violations. That's a waste of time, annoying to the motorist that otherwise respects authority and undermines public respect for police work.

That same cop may save a life tomorrow but the motorist he harassed over a muffler today, will always see him as a jerk. That perception is his reality and it spreads with each misuse of the law but the over-zealous cop using poor judgement.

The Duce thinks breaking traffic laws is a game and he accepts the consequences if he 'loses'. Fair enough. Most of us share that attitude. However, a cop combing over your car and nit-picking for a crooked license plate or other harmless 'violation' is bogus and foolish, as it undermines law-abiding citizen's confidence in the police authority to be fair and impartial. Dumb. To the average citizen, the fact that the cop 'could be killed in the line of duty' doesn't impress much and elliotness admits as much in his last post, I'm pleased to note. (Thanks).

On the videotaping issue; it's a great idea as it keeps the police officer honest and protects him, too, should he be accused of brutality or other bogus charge.

Many workplaces are installing videotaping equipment, including factories and offices across the nation. It's legal and used to spot theft and general goofing off as well as possible sexual harrassment. Soon, most of us will be on tape every day, like it or not. Again, the police aren't unique in this area, either.

mustang_man:

This is in no way a 'hate cops' thread. You need to re-read the posts. We may disagree about policing methods and police immunity to criticism but no one actually 'hates' cops. Well, maybe Unit 5302 does, but I doubt it. Don't confuse disagreement, criticism or dissent with 'hate'. Huge difference and you want to use that word carefully.

Good cops, bad cops, smart cops, dumb cops, honest cops, corrupt cops, nasty cops, friendly cops. I'm tired of discussing cops.

Outta here.

05-10-2002, 09:19 PM	#15
Mr 5 0 Conservative Individualist Join Date: May 1997 Location: Wherever I need to be Posts: 7,487	Cops, ad nauseum PKRWUD: Glad you decided to 'take the bait'. How's it taste? Get over it? That sum up your argument? O.K. Personally, I have no trouble with the police and haven't received a ticket in 11 years. I have nothing to 'get over'. I consider cops to be very necessary, as I've stated numerous times here, but I also consider them to be dangerous as they have immense power to make your life very unpleasant should they wish to do so, regardless of your 'guilt'. I accept that risk as part of the social contract 'The Duece' alluded to. The police protect me - to a point - and I accept the slight risk of being the victim of police abuse on occasion (it hasn't happened yet). Keeps me honest. The whole convenience store clerk vs cop argument came into play as a simple comparison to make the point that the cops who are injured 'in the line of duty' are fewer in number than convenience store clerks who are injured in their line of duty (giving you the wrong change). Chris, surely you (and elliotness) realized that the clerk's job wasn't being directly compared to the cop's job. I only used the comparative statistics to help illuminate the fact that a lot of people are killed or injured doing their job. Cops are not immune or somehow unique in this regard, they simply are better recognized. I do not accept the premise that since police work is dangerous (granted, many times) cops get a pass on any stupid thing they do to harrass motorists. Nope, not by me they don't. They are accountable, at least in theory, and the constant assertions that cops are somehow superior beings that deserve more leeway than others due to the danger of the job they volunteer to do doesn't work for me. It's irrevelant to the issue of police officers acting - as the thread topic stated - stupidly. Many cops are downright heroic at times but some small-town cops would be working an assembly line or bagging groceries somewhere if they didn't get on the force. They are not all noble. Some are corrupt as hell and some are actively working with criminals in the drug trade. Scandals erupt in cities and towns across the nation every month regarding police malfeasence. It's a fact that can't be denied. That's changing, I admit, but the Barney Fifes are still out there and there are many locations where traffic police patrols serve mostly to generate income from traffic tickets they give out for minor or trivial violations. That stinks and it's the fault of both the politicians that encourage it and the cops that willingly engage in the corrupt practice. Saying 'it's the law' misses the point that it's a misuse of the law to stop people for tinted glass or exhaust noise that endangers no one and bothers no one but the cop, then to issue possibly expensive citations for these minor violations. That's a waste of time, annoying to the motorist that otherwise respects authority and undermines public respect for police work. That same cop may save a life tomorrow but the motorist he harassed over a muffler today, will always see him as a jerk. That perception is his reality and it spreads with each misuse of the law but the over-zealous cop using poor judgement. The Duce thinks breaking traffic laws is a game and he accepts the consequences if he 'loses'. Fair enough. Most of us share that attitude. However, a cop combing over your car and nit-picking for a crooked license plate or other harmless 'violation' is bogus and foolish, as it undermines law-abiding citizen's confidence in the police authority to be fair and impartial. Dumb. To the average citizen, the fact that the cop 'could be killed in the line of duty' doesn't impress much and elliotness admits as much in his last post, I'm pleased to note. (Thanks). On the videotaping issue; it's a great idea as it keeps the police officer honest and protects him, too, should he be accused of brutality or other bogus charge. Many workplaces are installing videotaping equipment, including factories and offices across the nation. It's legal and used to spot theft and general goofing off as well as possible sexual harrassment. Soon, most of us will be on tape every day, like it or not. Again, the police aren't unique in this area, either. mustang_man: This is in no way a 'hate cops' thread. You need to re-read the posts. We may disagree about policing methods and police immunity to criticism but no one actually 'hates' cops. Well, maybe Unit 5302 does, but I doubt it. Don't confuse disagreement, criticism or dissent with 'hate'. Huge difference and you want to use that word carefully. Good cops, bad cops, smart cops, dumb cops, honest cops, corrupt cops, nasty cops, friendly cops. I'm tired of discussing cops. Outta here.