I mean, yes, that’s certainly part of it, but the other parts are that we (Americans) live among extremely well-financed and equipped (courtesy of military surplus) police forces who are obvious in their zeal to terrorize and extort citizens, while also being insulated by legal buffers like “Qualified Immunity.”
In most cities, the police take up 40-50% or more of the budget, and produce essentially zero benefits, but will always be enshrined because they protect the status quo and the top wealth layer’s property, and are willing to use force to ensure the most vulnerable are kept fearful and destabilized.
I mean, yes, that’s certainly part of it, but the other parts are that we (Americans) live among extremely well-financed and equipped (courtesy of military surplus) police forces who are obvious in their zeal to terrorize and extort citizens, while also being insulated by legal buffers like “Qualified Immunity.”
In most cities, the police take up 40-50% or more of the budget, and produce essentially zero benefits, but will always be enshrined because they protect the status quo and the top wealth layer’s property, and are willing to use force to ensure the most vulnerable are kept fearful and destabilized.