Among so-called “woke” Americans, certain verities seem obvious–so obvious, in fact, that it becomes easy to believe that most other people see things the same way, and to dismiss folks who fail to agree as dishonest or racist. As a result, they downplay or entirely ignore the need to educate and communicate, a need they often denigrate as “PR,” with the result that they often end up undermining support for the reforms they want to see.
Perhaps the most vivid example of this phenomenon was the slogan “Defund the Police,” which gained currency after the murder of George Floyd. A March USA Today/Ipsos Poll found that voters opposed “defunding the police” 58-18.
When most Americans hear “defund,” they hear only “take money away.” They don’t hear “change funding formulas to supplement policing with social services so that police can be freed up to focus on actual criminal behavior.”
The repeated use of that unfortunate phrasing allowed a variety of political candidates– Republican and Democrat alike–to reinforce a number of widely accepted misconceptions about crime and policing. The Brookings Institution recently addressed seven of those misconceptions, which it called myths.
The most obvious–and intellectually dishonest– was the assertion that “defunding” really meant “abolish.” Granted, the “defund” language was misleading, but only the most partisan observers actually thought the movement wanted to eliminate policing.
More understandable–if equally incorrect–was the belief that reducing the presence of police would usher in an increase in social disorder.
Another misconception is that police forces are what maintains order. However, studies have found that the best tools to establish peaceful societies are equity in education and infrastructure. Indeed, research shows that lack of education and illiteracy are some of the most significant predictors of future prison populations.
When it addressed the notion that police protect society from violence, the Brookings article included some rather shocking (at least to me) data. Evidently, research shows that 70% of robberies, 66% of rapes, 47% of aggravated assaults, and 38% of murders go unsolved each year–a rather daunting catalogue of police performance.
Research also rebuts the belief that spending money on community programs wouldn’t affect crime rates; the article links to studies demonstrating–among other things– that individuals who receive a quality education are less likely to become involved in the criminal justice system.(interestingly, the article also notes that police officers who have had more education are less likely to be the recipient of misconduct complaints.)
And although there is a widespread belief that police work is primarily focused on crime prevention, that also turns out to be a misconception.
There is minimal evidence that police surveillance results in reduced crime or prevents crime. For instance, research showed 90% of the people that were stopped in the NYPD’s controversial stop and frisk program were not committing any crime. While it is true that police do apprehend individuals that violate the law, this is one of several components of their responsibilities.
Finally, the article debunks the notion that “Defund the Police” was simply an emotional response to the appalling sight of a police officer killing George Floyd.
Some opponents of cutting police budgets view the movement as an emotional response to police misconduct rather than a well-thought-out campaign. However, a study with 60 years of data indicates that increases in spending do not reduce crime. Which begs the question, how is 60 years of a failed objective any better? Yes, the movement gained attention because of tragic events in 2020, but the evidence supporting the movement is based on hard data and proven methods.
Police reform is long overdue, and we have had thousands of opportunities to make the appropriate changes. In 2020, the murder of George Floyd garnered national attention that has caused many to take a long, hard look at our democratic systems, cultural identities, and the necessary steps towards equal protection. We do know that more traditional policing is not the answer.
Those in the legal community who have long been aware of the research and the problems with current police culture were appalled by the “defund” slogan, knowing that–rather than calling attention to mountains of data and the necessity of different approaches–it would only antagonize police and frighten the public, rather than communicating the need to alter a currently ineffective approach to public safety.
People who really want change rather than an opportunity to pontificate understand that language matters.
Bad slogan, but difficult to find one that entails all that needs to be done. Any suggestions?
And actions speak louder than words…
The Republicans in Washington recently REFUSED to fund the security measures for the US Capital. That would be those Law and Order – Police loving Republicans –
I agree that it’s a “bad” slogan but as a former marketing professional I would argue that it was a very EFFECTIVE and appropriate slogan for one reason only. It got nearly EVERYONE’S attention and it raised awareness in communities all over the country that there is something very seriously WRONG with US public safety policy that is based on a highly-militarized police force model.
What I also found so ironic about the slogan is that it reminds me of a tactic in the Trump playbook that got him elected in 2016: Say something SO outrageous and outlandish to command attention in the media and among the chattering class to drive momentum. And it worked to a point.
Social change for justice is a messy process that requires creating a sustained degree of discomfort among enough citizens that it pushes aside (or back) mountains of inertia, special interests and apathy. But it has served it’s purpose and should by now be retired and replaced with something more descriptive of the actual objective. I haven’t heard of a good one yet so let’s just stick with “Stop the Police From Killing So Many Unarmed Black People Now”.
What is meant is “Re-allocate your resources”, but that is not a good slogan for a rally.
My Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, Third Edition, Copyright 2008, has only ONE definition for the term “defund” and that is “To stop the flow of funds to”.
“abolish” in that same Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionarys shows two definitions; “1. To put an end to, 2. To destroy completely” adding up to the same results regarding the English language.
Ignorance and anger combined to come up with that slogan “Defund Police” and trying to cover it up with other definitions of what words mean is the same as Kellyanne Conway’s “alternate facts” in her attempts to cover up Donald Trump’s ignorance, lies and threats resulting in January 6th at our Capitol Building.
“Defund Police” was much more than a “bad slogan” and is certainly NOT a “good idea” and it has widened the separation between police and the public as the killings continue unabated. Police reform is indeed long overdue; we have no idea when we call for police assistance if we will get another Chauvin or “Officer Friendly”. And police don’t know if they are going to find victims or a heavily armed, mentally unstable person. My personal view of the many police calls regarding witnessed illegal activities in my small neighborhood, consisting of 4 streets with only one entrance, with some pretty scary individuals (some armed) resulted in briefly talking to people involved then driving away. Only the Black teenage boy across the street was repeatedly arrested, handcuffed and hauled away for unknown reasons.
“People who really want change rather than an opportunity to pontificate understand that language matters.”
UNDERSTANDING language also matters.
I would agree wholeheartedly!
But, as you know Sheila, I decided to venture out into the turmoil on those nights of rioting that were supposed to be based on injustice. And, I would have to say, that most of the people out causing mayhem had no clue as to why they were actually out there causing mayhem. Much of it was designed by some to loot, and others with a go along mentality, and still others using it as false flag Opportunities to promote political agenda!
I recall talking to the police officers after a rather severe and bloody night, and you can see how shaken up they were, and in this particular community where I live, there were police units from 20 different municipalities, plus units from the Great Lakes Naval facility where the CID and other agencies have units including the FBI and CIA, ATF and ICE! And yes those units were out also.
There really was no concern amongst the mobs roaming the streets that night about fairness, racial inequity and unjust policing and treatment, but it was being involved in the moment, and the only pontificating going on the next day, was done by some ignorant pastors and out and out thuggish tough guys who wanted to continue their assault on community business owners for their own personal gain! It had nothing to do with the police.
Being out On those nights, probably was pretty stupid, but, personally, I felt I had the obligation to post what I had seen, and what people were saying! One thing I found out, BLM, is a paper tiger! In my arguments that day, in the midst of unbelievable carnage, I was accused of being a Trump paid actor, LOL, a false flag agitator, or, a privileged white dude that had no clue! Probably the only reason I didn’t get shot by some of those morons out there for their nefarious purposes, they figured I would shoot back! Fortunately curiosity didn’t kill this cat.
BLM refuses to enter communities and promote some sort of peace, any piece, they are stuck on the police, and my issue that day and every day before and after, is, if you are supposed to claim that Black Lives Matter, do they matter less if they are gunned down by members of the community rather than the police? With an organization that boasts as many members as BLM, they could be in the community, they could be getting folks to push the bangers out of the community, give support to individuals who are afraid to talk against the bangers. But alas, that could prove dangerous at the very least. And, I guarantee, self-preservation is more important than peace for BLM.
They claim their only concern is police brutality and unjust policing activities that lead to death by the police. The night before the riots, 60 people were shot that weekend in Chicago, 31 dead, and not a peep from BLM. So, yes! I don’t think that the pontificating by BLM holds much sway amongst individuals who really know what’s happening. I think BLM is just a huge soapbox for various individuals to self aggrandize while pontificating.
Because the GOP has gutted healthcare for decades, the jails and prisons have become the largest mental health facilities in the United States! That needs to be addressed before anything else can happen. There needs to be massive mental health infrastructure programs to keep the mentally ill out of regular jails and prisons and provide treatment for those who are treatable. If these things would be done proactively, it would stop a lot of what’s happening now. Units that deal specifically with the mentally ill and those having psychotic breaks ARE a necessity and not wish list issues.
Some of these issues are driven by drugs, some driven by lack of medication, lack of doctors, lack of facilities, lack of education, lack of opportunity, and a general despair or malaise. Lead injections are not the answer, and yes there definitely needs to be a reorganization of how police conduct their business. The uniformed officers should do what they do best, Specially trained organizations or units should deal with the rest. But, that will not happen, it will never ever happen, because, the moral decay of society, which includes the top and the bottom of that society, are careening towards ripping this societal fabric to shreds! Actually, it really is here right now!
Many of those who used the slogan “Defund the Police” meant exactly what it says. Your reaction to that is your issue. Your perception is your issue.
As Brookings concluded, reforming the police departments is long overdue, but all the tender loving words haven’t worked, have they?
Privileged white people who don’t get their necked snapped or shot after being pulled over have plenty of time to mince words about reforming the systemic racism within the police departments. Black people don’t have that luxury. I’ve noticed all those people claiming “defund” is too harsh; even Obama is privileged. Secret Service protects him. His black brothers in Chicago don’t have that luxury when driving around town with white racist cops itching to kick someone’s ass.
I would say it’s effective and a good slogan regardless of how it polls with white misinformed white America who actually thinks the police prevent crime and even solve them.
I challenge readers to go up to your local police department and tell them the exact name of a person who has threatened to kill you. Cry and tell them how scared you are.
The police will hand you a tissue and inform you that until a crime is committed or a law is broken, they can do nothing. And as the statistics show, even if that person does kill, there is a high probability they won’t solve your case.
We’ve been talking about this crap for decades while black people die every day at the hands of police who were hired to protect them.
It’s time to stop talking or making speeches. It’s time to Defund the Police,
Here’s a slogan for you: Don’t call a cop when what you need is a social worker!
For too long we have defunded social programs that helped people deal with non criminal events or people in their lives. We turned responsibility for those events over to the police. That, however, isn’t the entire problem. We don’t seem to give much thought to who puts on a uniform or how they are trained to do their jobs.
We have never put into place anything approximating responsibility for actions taken in the field, so we wind up with Derek Chauvin, who had seventeen complaints filed against him before he knelt on George Floyd’s neck. If you’ve abused people seventeen times without repercussions, why would you imagine that you wouldn’t be able to do that again?
Reform the police!
Hear hear!
Democrats/liberals are awful at marketing their points. I thought an easy answer was “Re-fund the police”. At least that doesn’t imply taking all their money away and makes it harder for the right wing to argue “You just hate our blue heroes!”
How about “De-militarize the police”?
Theresa Bowers – I don’t think you can do that one. “Why do you hate our military heroes!? You hate America, you communist.”
Sadly.
All the (as usual) interesting political/philosophical comments this ignore REALITY. As someone who monitored GOP US House ads carefully in 2020, I can assure you that the phrase played a major role in the DEMs losing 9 seats, many winnable.
And, re the power of subjectivity of phrasing, the GOP also very effectively used “Black Lives Matter” to not so subtlely suggest that the meaning was anything from “Only Black Lives Matter” to “Brown Lives Don’t Matter” and “White Lives Don’t Matter”.
When will the Leftie world realize that we are in perilous times where “Words Matter” in the mind of the beholder. How hard is it to shout “All Lives Matter”????
John, you speak of BLM as though it were an organisation with leaders and a hierarchy and plans and spokespeople, etc. It’s not. It’s individual people who think a particular slogan about antiracism/equality/equity is worthwhile; a grassroots, decentralised social movement, made largely of individuals who all have their own idea about what the slogan means to them. There are some “chapters” and loose local groups, but there’s no organisation. Your fundamental misconception is leading you to expectations that are completely erroneous. Anyway, I bring this up only so that you may reconsider your expectations. (To give context, it’s like thinking those who think the “defund the police” slogan has value are an organisation. Personal aside: I HATE the “defund” slogan, as it’s so misleading, but that doesn’t change the fact that the police desperately need reform, and some of their money should be redirected into other areas to help the communities.)
Similarly, consider Antifa. It has far more organisation than BLM, and it’s definitely not organised at all.
Ultimately, my point is these are not groups; they’re ideas, maybe even movements.
Defund the police wording is, shooting our self’s in the foot again. As apposed to Support Better Policing. We need to help the police get better training & the best recruits.
I agree that “Defund the police” is effective at getting attention, but is a political liability. We lost House seats, in part, to “Defund the police” – the slogan, not the broader concept.
Like so many complex things that get distilled down to just a word, phrase or slogan, it’s open to misinterpretation or deliberate twisting. That said, people have a short attention span. if you are left having to explain it, you’ve probably already lost the debate.
I agree with much of what @John Sorg wrote: The criminal justice system should be used for criminals, and not to deal with mental health issues, poverty, substance abuse. Everything else does need to be dealt with, but the criminal justice system is a really expensive and ineffective substitute. As it is, we aren’t preventing crime – let alone solving it after it’s happened (as you noted) AND we aren’t solving mental health issues AND it’s all costing a fortune AND people are ending up dead. When the only tools you have are handcuffs, a gun, and jails – then all your problems suddenly start looking like criminals. This is not a good plan.
I appreciate some of the work that BLM has done to bring police issues to the forefront – but I agree that much of the destruction / looting that I saw didn’t have much of a connection to that cause. Like John, I see that racism in policing is an issue… but it pales in comparison to the crime, poverty, ignorance, drugs, despair, and violence that demean Black lives, every hour of every day in many communities.
Re-Organize the police!
And, I would beg to differ with Todd!
Barack Obama had to deal with the same things everyone else dealt with in the community! When he was a community organizer, he was threatened by the bangers, but those weren’t the people he hung around!
I met him back in the day when he used to frequent Army and Lou’s restaurant, Bobby Rush, Danny Davis, Carol Moseley Braun, Harold Washington, all would hang out on Thursday nights talking politics. I used to be down in the area working nightclubs as club security. Mr. T was one of those guys up the street at Dingbats. Everybody knew Barack Obama because he was helping the steelworkers and other displaced workers in the Southside plants, closings that decimated the communities.
Don’t talk about what you don’t know Todd!
Barack Obama had people who watched out for him as he did his work for the church groups who hired him!
Guns and drugs flow into Chicago as a hub for distribution across the region. Satan’s Disciples, the Four Corner Hustlers, Vice Lords, Black P Stones, Latin Kings, Spanish Cobras, the Insane Maniacs, amongst others, big and small, allied with each other or at war with each other, all are on the street armed to the teeth!
Police have a hard enough time dealing with constant calls all night long. If people are afraid of the police, then why do they call them? It’s an issue to the police when somebody calls them with some sort of emergency, and when they show up, everyone stands around mute!
The code of silence is the biggest wedge driver between the police and the community. Of course there is racism in the police department, but there’s also racism in the community, there is an every day war, more people are gunned down in the streets of Chicago then in Afghanistan or Iraq in any given day!
1298 people have been shot in Chicago so far this year, that’s 291 more than 2020
https://www.chicagotribune.com/data/ct-shooting-victims-map-charts-htmlstory.html
San Jose had its mass shooting yesterday, Chicago has them every day! Do you think national news reports on that?
The community has to work with the police, there is no alternative. Reorganization will definitely help, but when you have groups that are armed better than some military units, the police rushing into an area are going to be very skittish to say the least. It’s the community’s responsibility to police itself, if there are those who are involved in various Nefarious activities, then it should be reported. But, the lack of opportunity makes the draw of ill-gotten financial gains very appealing. The code of silence and the code of capitulation is something that BLM should address but refuses to! They actually encourage it!
Kurt,
Bingo!
Oh and by the way, concerning reporting a threat to the police, a threat is a crime! My wife was threatened at a Dunkin’ Donuts drive-through, the guy in front threatened to shoot her because her car was too close to his! Go figure? She just hit the 911 dial on her steering wheel, spoke to Miss Tony at the 911 center, and in two minutes there were six squad cars blocking off the Dunkin’ Donuts parking lot and dragging the clown off. Since she was on the phone, a recording of the guy’s available, the county took over his prosecution and she never had to be bothered with it.
John you are absolutely right about the failure of our country to maintain/expand an infrastructure of health care that has enough beds for people with mental health and substance use disorders. Oh, but it’s not “profitable”. Oh no, it’s more profitable to flood the pharmacies with opiates and to pressure doctors to prescribe them. As a retired psych nurse and substance abuse counselor, I can tell you that I was appalled at insurance companies who kept denying to pay for levels of care that people needed to build a solid foundation in recovery. Insurance companies practice system stigma against these patients. St. Vincent’s cut 90% of their treatment services for people with mental health and substance use disorders. Many treatment centers have had to close their doors.
The police dept. needs to have forensic social workers/psychiatrists to help them with people who are homeless, mentally ill, or addicted. They need help becoming very skilled at deescalating situations. And then there needs to be a crisis # that connects people with mental health professionals who can go to the scene and deescalate the situation. They also need to help police officers debrief and find preventative strategies for PTSD in the police force. I am appalled that they are using ketamine to sedate people. They need a different tranquilzer ie a rapid acting benzodiazepine and they need to know if the individual being restrained has taken any drugs that day.
Local communities need to meet with city councils and yes police men and women to discuss the needs of their communities. They need to meet together and discuss how to decrease gun violence and crime in their local communities. The police and people in the community need to meet on a regular basis. They need to get to KNOW one another.
I watched a video of a man who rescued a woman from a man who was trying to kill her with a knife. The man who saved her was unarmed and yet managed to restrain the assailant by throwing him on his stomach. The assailant was not shot by any police as a result of his heroic intervention.
Perhaps the phrase that is needed is “Transform the police.” Oh, and if you want to see good
community policing watch “Call the Midwife” on Netflix.
Interesting on education. Hopefully we can all get on board with early education. I volunteered in day care for 15 years and can attest to the importance of giving kids learning opportunities before kindergarten. PAY NOW OR PAY LATER. It’s much cheaper NOW.
John H,
Please, I’m very familiar with black lives matter! Have you read the book by BLM founder Alicia Garza?
BLM as it’s currently constituted, is very well connected, and very well-funded! $90 million in 2020!
Patrisse Khan-Cullors the CEO of BLM, has been buying properties worth over $1 million and looking at properties including a resort in the Bahamas properties in New York and Atlanta!
Patrisse Khan-Cullors’ spouse Janaya Khan is a Canadian BLM founder and activist who gets paid by giving speeches and now lives in Los Angeles with her wife. She is also Color Of Change director! A lot of money floating around, and a lot of organization to say the least!
So, no, I don’t think I will alter my opinion on the subject!
The Police these days must live in fear or at the least anxiety, knowing how many firearms are out there. Stop a person for speeding and the police would have to factor in this person could be armed and dangerous.
As far as neighborhood groups trying to fight crime, it will not happen.
When I was in Vietnam the villagers were told in so many words by the Viet Cong, you can take the candy, food or medical assistance the Americans offer. If you betray us we will know it, and when the Americans go back to their bases at night – We will still be here and you and your family will suffer the consequences.
Whether it is a village in Vietnam or a neighborhood in Chicago the Code of Silence is enforced. This is not a new phenomenon. I read a book about the Mafia in Chicago. The Mafia would at times make a “message hit” on the street – No witnesses would come forward, they knew the penalty for breaking the Code of Silence.
“Re-fund the police” works for me.
Robin,
Absolutely!
People are afraid to get involved for the most part. I think you have to be wired in a particular way to intervene in something that is not affecting you in that particular moment. But I suppose it affects society as a whole! I’m not bragging on myself, because I’ve always been wired that way. I remember after being involved in a severe altercation in Chicago at a club, Some nut job hassling the women on ladies night! I had a fractured Zygomatic arch bone in my face and a 6 inch slash across my chest, I had surgery on it later the next day. I remember the doctor telling me not to lay on that side of my face for three weeks, and, don’t shave or touch it. That night, I was doped up on Demerol, it was fairly painful. My wife poked me and said someone was screaming outside the house. I grabbed the closest thing to me at the time which was a Louisville slugger professional series. A guy was trying to rape a woman on our front lawn. So me standing out there in my boxers, with a baseball bat, face bandaged up, chest full of stitches, and higher than a kite from the Demerol, the guy told me he was going to take the bat away from me and beat me to death with it. The woman managed to get up and run down the street, and, I teed up his head with the bat. The whole time my wife was on the phone with the police, holding the phone out the window so they could hear. The police picked him up and threw him in the back of the van, and they got the woman down the street who told the police what had happened. Everybody needs to be involved, and, I could not have lived with myself if I would’ve ignored what was happening. And, if I would’ve waited, she probably would’ve been raped. I’m a religious guy, and I don’t tend to be violent anymore, but that has its limitations! I think if everyone put themselves out there like that, society would be much better place. Having PTSD does put things in a different perspective I guess, also as a young child being severely bullied in school, kind of created a switch which is hard to turn off.
patmcc – I think that was opposed by Republicans because it was proposed by Democrats.
For all those with BLM signs on their lawns…from their website….their mission…very specific, very internal to the Black community…very unlike most “interpretations”…
“We are expansive. We are a collective of liberators who believe in an inclusive and spacious movement. We also believe that in order to win and bring as many people with us along the way, we must move beyond the narrow nationalism that is all too prevalent in Black communities. We must ensure we are building a movement that brings all of us to the front.
We affirm the lives of Black queer and trans folks, disabled folks, undocumented folks, folks with records, women, and all Black lives along the gender spectrum. Our network centers those who have been marginalized within Black liberation movements.”
The minute the slogan “Defund the Police” became prevalent, the debate was lost. I know that is not what was literally meant – and I’m actually sympathetic the desire to reallocate resources – but words matter. “Defund the police” may well have cost the Democrats several congressional seats in 2020.
Applause for this article. Language, and it’s amplification, is the very reason the right appears to be winning the culture wars AND more seats in state legislators. Too few well-crafted slogans and too much attention given to complex and sometimes illogical PC speech from the left and from progressive moderates like me provide too much fuel for the right’s attacks. Any term (and idea) would be better than defund the police. You want better policing? Fire the bad apples, hire, train and promote better police officers and crisis response units, insulate them from city politics, and double their salaries and benefits to keep them around. You wouldn’t be defunding the police, you’d be spending all that money on the most important factor: the individual officers and their leaders. Yes, we need funding for mental health and social services, but it shouldn’t be to the detriment of the salaries, benefits, training, support services, and crisis/de-escalation units that help keep detainees and officers alive. Instead of Defund the Police, how ’bout this call and response: Fund the Police–for Peace in the Streets. Language IS culture, and the language of the left is the single biggest barrier to the advancement of its ideas.
‘Transform policing’ works. An organization of which I’m a long-time member adopted the “de-fund the police” slogan over my objections. The organization has no intention to eliminate the police but does support funding an array of social, medical, and mental health services to relieve police and jails of these responsibilities.
However, I recently encountered one person on Facebook who actually wants to ‘abolish the police”. I mistakenly thought this was another de-funder and tried to persuade the person that they would undermine their intended outcome to provide other needed services. It finally became apparent that this person really did want to abolish (eliminate) the police. So I asked how they intended to deal with murderers, rapists, terrorists, etc.? The person did not respond, but neither did I see any more messages about abolishing the police.
Sometimes emotion overtakes reason and prevents folks from connecting the dots.
The only reason the Democrats lose seats is that they belong to the two corrupt capitalist parties owned by the Oligarchs. Slogans don’t win or lose Americans. Actions do.
The Democratic Party represents the financial oligarchy, military, and surveillance state and gives lip service to voters.
They are just as Fascistic as the Republicans/Trumpsters but use better propaganda for their voters.
When the war protestors hit the streets soon (dissidents, insurgency) you’ll see exactly who the Fascists in uniform represent.
“Defund the Police” was leftist idiocy at its worst. This, I would guess, was the work of activists who wanted to display their justifiable anger at police violence and chose a defiant slogan, which of course killed any chance of real reform. The right wing media, weary of their constant straw man efforts, must have been thrilled that the left handed them this one on a platter.
As was “Black Lives Matter,” by the way. What they should have said was “Black Lives Matter, Too.” That would have been more accurate and a completely unassailable position to take. Instead we got “All Lives Matter” and other various arguments that were effective rhetorical responses to a poorly crafted slogan.
And along with lost political positions that might have allowed actual legislation, we’re losing the hearts/minds of the independents. Voting is the foundation.
That’s what you get for marching instead of thinking. It ain’t that easy.
Paul Ogden,
Absolutely it did! The big wave that was supposed to hit probably would have, but people can’t resist sticking their feet in their mouths! That’s what happens when people think they’re so liberally intellectual, that they can outsmart everyone by their mere presence.
Lester Levine,
Excellent post, it definitely shows the mission statement more clearly for BLM.
They have a lot of money floating around, and although they give quite a bit to charity, where does the rest go? It seems people should be looking at the leadership.
Sheila is actually bringing up a long standing problem, discussed here before.
Republicans have become masters of branding, giving noble sounding names to bills that do the opposite of what you would expect – of course, the Allow Giant Corporations to Poison our Air and our Water Act doesn’t have a very good ring to it.
On the other side, from the center moving left, the branding/sloganeering gets “progressively” worse.
Several good ideas here, and as James points out, re-allocation is the goal, but a poor message.
May I suggest that we need real pizzazz – “Free the Police” or “Unleash the Police”
Free them from duties for which they are unqualified; unleash them to do what they are (or should be) actually trained for.
I may have mentioned Loukas Loukopolous, a Wayne State University researcher who ran for City Council ages ago. He would talk to the police union on how they were being deprived of the extra training they needed. Then he would talk to a Black audience and talk about how poorly trained the police were. Same research (his area), same truth, and yet different tone.
Defund the Police might excite a subset of people, but it turned off so many more — many who would agree with the true re-allocation goals. Hell, I’ve met police officers who would love domestic disturbances to be handled by other professionals and to be left out of it.
Free the Police – Black Lives Matter Too
Nerd humor for the day – Slogans and Words matter
As a biochemist/neuroscientist, I always envied physicists with their “quarks” and “muons” and fruit fly researchers with “Rutabaga”, “Sonic Hedgehog”, “Bride of Sevenless”, and “Cheap Date”.
BTW – They also have “Indy” — I’m Not Dead Yet (a longevity gene)
Kamau Bell talked about it on his show United Shades of America about a month ago. He is supportive of “defunding” the police and he and his guests were quite articulate in describing what they mean. The show is on CNN and replayed on Netflix.