Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week

A reason why things go on for so long is that you in not too long of a time get used a state of affairs. Thus, in a few months now, it is like President Biden was in office for some time.

That we did not have some horror show in power. Instead, we have Jen Psaki providing a reasonable face of the Administration, with "#PsakiBombs" to give a special "CJ" (West Wing) verve at times. Reports are she is planning to step down some time early next year (I heard this before, but now it is being widely reported). On that front, saw that she has two sisters, one having some science role, the other perhaps some sort of minister.

The sanity makes it a satisfactory thing to check on the White House page (I still have not found a VP page though she has a Facebook page and Twitter) to see if there are any updates. This includes various promotional type days like for older Americans or the Day of Prayer. I saw the subject announced too. Police wrongdoing makes things more tricky in recent memory there. So, as well as honoring them, we have this:

In order to rebuild that trust, our State, local, and Federal Government and law enforcement agencies must protect constitutional rights, ensure accountability for misconduct, and embrace policing that reflects community values and ensures community safety. These approaches benefit those who wear the badge and those who count on their protection.

One blog I regularly read has had a series asking if there were any good cops and citing a range of horrible things they did. We can go down that line with parents, teachers and so forth. Twice now people are like "well do they kill" or whatever, as if bad parents and so forth do not really cause much harm of any note. The person behind the series even was annoyed a former police officer isn't running for governor in Florida (Val Demings). She's not a totally horrible person, huh.

Bad actors must be addressed, but a continual thing flagged is that it is not just a few "bad apples." It isn't, however, that every single parent or whatever or bad. It is that the system is bad, worsening the situation while there also being bad actors. They aren't ALL bad. This second thing, while not just letting the bad actors off the hook is very important. On some level, focusing on the bad actors has an emotional valence that is easier than addressing the wider problem. Biden's message also goes there:

We must also stop tasking law enforcement with problems that are far beyond their jurisdictions. From providing emergency health care to resolving school discipline issues, our communities rely on the police to perform services that often should be the duty of other institutions. We then accuse the police of failure when responsibility lies with public policy choices they did not make. Supporting our law enforcement officers requires that we invest in underfunded public systems that provide health care, counseling, housing, education, and other social services.

I think the "defund police" message hits to an important concern that merely "reform" does not. We need to think about radical structural reforms of society here, especially the criminal justice system. But, many do not want to go that far. The term bothers many who are comfortable with accepting there are many problems, but feel it suggests "abolishing" police as if we are just dealing with anarchists (let's put aside the complexity of that philosophy). Mixed in there is discomfort from some of the anger and tactics. It isn't just some two word slogan.

The middle ground is reducing the police's reach. It is accepting realistically (at least) that we will not "abolish" or totally "defund" (move past the argument we should not take that literally) police departments. This opens up a lot of room for change, change that in various ways will not be opposed by police. At some point, this very well will mean some reduction of funds that police departments might want. But, there will remain a sizable police presence that can focus more on specific matters. And, checked and balance to ensure the first quote holds true.

We honored police that defended the U.S. Capitol, including by angrily opposing those who harmed them and/or did not properly deal with those that threatened their well being. The police officers who were harmed and the few who died (one by natural causes that the latest report suggests was in some fashion made more likely because of being attacked) are "good cops" from what I can tell. This doesn't change because of some mismanagement from above of the overall situation. They and are lots of others have very well served the public. Like bad parents, it is not just all assholes.

Dealing with problems, to use an old term that was used a bit too self-assuredly, in a reality based community requires a complex accounting. The people we need to address are not just horrible people. They regularly very well are doing things necessary, things the average person basically delegates to the government in particular. They deserve to be honored for that. But, as there always is on this blog (always a "but"), we have to face up to the flaws of the system and address abuses as well.

The proclamation -- see also the prayer one that honors prayer and freedom to make such decisions on one own -- helpfully covers multiple bases there. And, unlike just a few months ago, we can expect that regularly for them. This is why I will continue -- as I did with Obama -- take any criticism with a grain of salt, especially when it is one-sided. Criticism is fine. But, when there is a core of decency, that too is to be factored in.