That’s because you are most likely miscommunicating what you mean. When you say “abolish the police” I presume you mean “the current policing institution does not justly enforce law, ensure safety, or act in support public interest and therefore needs to be replaced with an institution that conducts policing justly and accountable”
What people hear is that you’re saying “policing as a concept is wrong and we should not have any institution that enforces democratic law or acts to secure public safety in accordance to a justice system”… Because that’s what the word “abolish” means, to formally and permanently put an end to something. Like “abolish slavery” because slavery is wrong.
Ah I see. I mean sure, that’s fine to consider and think through. Although, there doesn’t seem to be much meaningful difference between “replace it” and “figure something else out”.
But if the plan is to dismantle everything and wing it, I’m glad they volunteered their community to “figure something else out”. Im sure we can learn something from it. However, I suspect they will eventually circle back to having some system of law, some system to judge adherence to that law, and some system to enforce adherence to that law.
Still, I think there’s nobility in willing to sacrifice one’s own security (if not others’, which certainly is already the case in the current system) for the sake of those experiencing injustice/oppression. But there are also prudent and foolish ways to go about it.
In Canada we’re actually grappling with this tension leaning the other way, ensuring justice for those being processed through the justice system. Our bail system ensures people are not unjustly held for prolonged periods of time pre-trial, but the consequence is you have more cases of violent people readily released on bail who then attack someone else not long after. This is exacerbated by an inefficient system where trial dates take so long you’d have to hold someone presumed innocent for months or over a year, as well as an insufficient system without enough support and rehabilitation that helps minimize recitivism.
That’s because you are most likely miscommunicating what you mean. When you say “abolish the police” I presume you mean “the current policing institution does not justly enforce law, ensure safety, or act in support public interest and therefore needs to be replaced with an institution that conducts policing justly and accountable”
What people hear is that you’re saying “policing as a concept is wrong and we should not have any institution that enforces democratic law or acts to secure public safety in accordance to a justice system”… Because that’s what the word “abolish” means, to formally and permanently put an end to something. Like “abolish slavery” because slavery is wrong.
Nope.
Okay, if it’s not either of those, what do you actually mean then?
He wants to get rid of police now, and empty all the prisons now. and have no replacements. typical buried lede
Ah I see. I mean sure, that’s fine to consider and think through. Although, there doesn’t seem to be much meaningful difference between “replace it” and “figure something else out”.
But if the plan is to dismantle everything and wing it, I’m glad they volunteered their community to “figure something else out”. Im sure we can learn something from it. However, I suspect they will eventually circle back to having some system of law, some system to judge adherence to that law, and some system to enforce adherence to that law.
Still, I think there’s nobility in willing to sacrifice one’s own security (if not others’, which certainly is already the case in the current system) for the sake of those experiencing injustice/oppression. But there are also prudent and foolish ways to go about it.
In Canada we’re actually grappling with this tension leaning the other way, ensuring justice for those being processed through the justice system. Our bail system ensures people are not unjustly held for prolonged periods of time pre-trial, but the consequence is you have more cases of violent people readily released on bail who then attack someone else not long after. This is exacerbated by an inefficient system where trial dates take so long you’d have to hold someone presumed innocent for months or over a year, as well as an insufficient system without enough support and rehabilitation that helps minimize recitivism.