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Baitball Blogger

(46,763 posts)
60. How are you going to change the Police Department's antagonistic process,
Sun Aug 23, 2015, 01:38 PM
Aug 2015

Last edited Sun Aug 23, 2015, 02:08 PM - Edit history (1)

if you don't first eliminate the public perceptions that drive it? It's easier to see how all the moving pieces work together when you study a small town culture.

In small towns you get the full picture. Length and width. Specifically, you can see how the white elite game the system, skirting the laws to enrich friends, family and business associates. No one will stop them. Not the FBI, the state attorneys office and especially not the police department. That's because their mission is generally defined by the status quo in the community. In other words, their salary is paid by the very same people who will wilt like a flower when they see a PoC walk down their streets.

So, in order to redefine the mission, you have to redefine the status quo.

Personally, I think "shadow government" is more appropriate. The fact that this backwater construct still exists today defies common sense because our American identity is founded on the concept of equality. In contrast, the status quo's purpose is to retain power, and resist change.

I can use a small town culture to demonstrate how they resist change. Keep in mind that the status quo is a socially constructed monster. It grows whenever its turf is threatened. It can pull in new members for the most inane of reasons. For example, if there is someone in the community who presents a challenge to their power, they will respond by pulling all the stops to watch that individual. That can mean increased police surveillance or it can mean contacting neighbors to ask for their assistance. Sometimes it might even involve asking for permission to use a driveway to station a car. (As a side note, when they are asking the gullible neighbor for this favor, they are not just asking for a favor, they are also forcing him to take a side.)

The purpose behind watching the house is not just an intimidation tactic, but also serves to observe who this person is socializing with to stop any political challenges before they begin.

Given this hostile environment I am asking you, how are you going to find allies, how are you going to grow a political movement when the entire system is set up to frustrate you before you even start?

So, do you see how we are all being stymied on both ends of this social experiment? In sum, the key to change is to change the demographics of the status quo. That's the only way to make our criminal justice system more egalitarian in their mission statements. We will get their faster together, with a strategy supported by the BLM and a push for economic equality.

This is a good read...K & R... Wounded Bear Aug 2015 #1
Good understanding of this explosive issue that seems to have been influenced ... AuntPatsy Aug 2015 #2
Good read Catherina... AOR Aug 2015 #3
Thanks Catherina malaise Aug 2015 #4
It's all true, but that doesn't make it wrong to focus on racism starroute Aug 2015 #5
+1 navarth Aug 2015 #7
Of course not, we agree on that Catherina Aug 2015 #11
Agree with both of you........ socialist_n_TN Aug 2015 #36
Hi my friend! Catherina Aug 2015 #39
Yep. I really do believe that was his first goal with his candidacy........ socialist_n_TN Aug 2015 #42
If so, I hope the movement is sound enough in basic theory Catherina Aug 2015 #61
Recommended. mmonk Aug 2015 #6
Another Jacobin fan RufusTFirefly Aug 2015 #18
. mmonk Aug 2015 #35
Bookmarked for later. hifiguy Aug 2015 #8
K&R...thank you! n/t OneGrassRoot Aug 2015 #9
I could be wrong, but didn't some Black American DUers Baitball Blogger Aug 2015 #10
Not all Black DUers, just a few who claim to speak for everyone Catherina Aug 2015 #14
Thank you for the response. Baitball Blogger Aug 2015 #20
+1000 "It's all about political access and economic rewards" n/t Catherina Aug 2015 #22
There is a reason for D politicians Who have adopted a hybrid theory of governance Dragonfli Aug 2015 #26
As if I didn't love you enough already! Thanks 4 an astute, awesome post Catherina Aug 2015 #28
Token support for minorities, is what it boils down to. Baitball Blogger Aug 2015 #30
This deserves to be its own OP. stranger81 Aug 2015 #67
You're wrong. Almost all black DUers disagree with this type of analysis. kwassa Aug 2015 #32
How are you going to change the Police Department's antagonistic process, Baitball Blogger Aug 2015 #60
Public perceptions are being changed about the police. That is what BLM .... kwassa Aug 2015 #77
how can you possibly know what most black americans think? noiretextatique Aug 2015 #72
I know a lot of black people. Don't you? kwassa Aug 2015 #74
how about common sense? noiretextatique Aug 2015 #78
There is no way Sanders will not be painted as a socialist. kwassa Aug 2015 #81
yeah the ones who claim all AA's hate other AA critics of Obama. m-lekktor Aug 2015 #51
K & R beam me up scottie Aug 2015 #12
Thanks. I'm glad to be back too Catherina Aug 2015 #23
Very good analysis; makes sense of a lot of things. n/t Beartracks Aug 2015 #13
This webpage is not available LWolf Aug 2015 #15
Are you using Chrome? Catherina Aug 2015 #16
I WAS using chrome; LWolf Aug 2015 #19
I'm glad FF worked Catherina Aug 2015 #25
Oh, no. LWolf Aug 2015 #31
I'll send you an extra duster Catherina Aug 2015 #62
Okay. LWolf Aug 2015 #64
Excellent read. Recommended. RufusTFirefly Aug 2015 #17
Great read. I have felt this needed saying DirkGently Aug 2015 #21
cogent, drama-free analysis of the realities of change. nashville_brook Aug 2015 #24
Bookmarking for later, thank you :) n/t slipslidingaway Aug 2015 #27
Interesting read. Gormy Cuss Aug 2015 #29
Class and race operate both separately and together to impoverish people. Catherina Aug 2015 #38
I don't see anyone here separating the two. Well, let me correct that. I DO see people here sabrina 1 Aug 2015 #45
I see people here who almost reflexively try to shift a racial injustice topic into an economic one Gormy Cuss Aug 2015 #46
What's really tiresome is to see such an enormous issue, ignored mostly by the same people sabrina 1 Aug 2015 #48
This analysis is mistaken, of course. It is, of course, from a socialist magazine .... kwassa Aug 2015 #33
+10^10^100. The piece is extremely poorly written and makes points that don't follow at all. stevenleser Aug 2015 #40
So are you ssaying that you do not support Economic Equality/Justice for minorities? That appears sabrina 1 Aug 2015 #47
"So are you ssaying that you do not support Economic Equality/Justice for minorities?" NuclearDem Aug 2015 #49
What does any of that have to do with fighting for economic equality? And just WHO has ever said sabrina 1 Aug 2015 #50
You are diverting the topic. This thread is about BLM, not income equality per se. kwassa Aug 2015 #53
The topic is 'why Liberals Separate Racism from Class'. That is what the title of the OP sabrina 1 Aug 2015 #55
No, the issue of income equality is not irrelevant. kwassa Aug 2015 #73
It's not just the AA posters on DU. Huge majorities of black people everywhere have been saying this Number23 Aug 2015 #87
I have to wonder if O.J. Simpson had been poor, not having celebrity and economic power would the Uncle Joe Aug 2015 #52
I think we know the answer to that Uncle Joe! sabrina 1 Aug 2015 #54
It don't get it either, sabrina? Uncle Joe Aug 2015 #56
You don't get it because those arguments don't exist. NuclearDem Aug 2015 #57
Nobody is saying it will, but economic justice will go a long way toward leveling the playing field. Uncle Joe Aug 2015 #58
Right-wing economics... MountCleaners Aug 2015 #84
Shameless bullshit allegation - and you know it is. Twisting the truth that they are sometimes bettyellen Aug 2015 #68
Sorry, but that is how it is coming across. sabrina 1 Aug 2015 #69
No one said it - so stop saying they did. It's nonsense. bettyellen Aug 2015 #71
Who is "they"? It is just a charge being thrown about. Capitalism requires division, an hierachy mmonk Aug 2015 #41
Great post. Lisa D Aug 2015 #43
Well said kwassa. PragmaticLiberal Aug 2015 #44
how do you propose to end racism in all areas of American life? noiretextatique Aug 2015 #75
Educate the public about the history of racism and it's effects. kwassa Aug 2015 #80
Yet you don't even mention the profit motivation that caused .... socialist_n_TN Aug 2015 #82
Race was around long before capitalism. kwassa Aug 2015 #83
You're right but that person will never be able to accept that. If you have bought into stevenleser Aug 2015 #90
K & R historylovr Aug 2015 #34
Good article. daleo Aug 2015 #37
I'm so glad someone spelled this out daredtowork Aug 2015 #59
You're welcome n/t Catherina Aug 2015 #63
Great article! hifiguy Aug 2015 #65
Who treats race as "permanent and unchanging"- link please! bettyellen Aug 2015 #66
race is not permanent and unchanging noiretextatique Aug 2015 #76
Class issues threaten both Parties' financial backers. Social ones do not. nt Romulox Aug 2015 #70
i am wondering where all those outraged black Duers are? noiretextatique Aug 2015 #79
You know where to find them. kwassa Aug 2015 #85
and here is the rest of Bernie's problem, from today's NYT. kwassa Aug 2015 #86
Don't get me started Catherina Aug 2015 #88
Not SOCIALISM...not from MLK!? noiretextatique Aug 2015 #92
Your inability to discuss the issues is telling. kwassa Aug 2015 #93
Some would rather control what others think Waiting For Everyman Aug 2015 #89
Because liberals know folks like Julian Bond greymattermom Aug 2015 #91
ttt Blue_Tires Aug 2015 #94
Great article, very thoughtful, thanks. nt Zorra Aug 2015 #95
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