There is little indication that the ethos giving rise to "defund the police" has abated. The major Democrat controlled cities are run by progressive activists, which seems to be fine with the voters. Ditto for our public schools, which currently exist as intuitions of indoctrination, not education. Equity is stressed, excellence is discouraged. The human resource departments of major corporations a seek diversity, equity, and inclusion in their hiring. Management and the BOD are fine with this. We can see where California is headed. Our business and moral leaders have taken a back seat to activists everywhere. My overarching view says that the decline of religion, the decline of belief in a higher authority, removes the bonds that heretofore bound us together.
What is happening is well explained by an extracts from Edmund Burke's well known 1781 letter to a member of the French parliament:
"Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition to put moral chains upon their own appetites, -- in proportion as their love of justice is above their rapacity, -- in proportion as their soundness and sobriety of understanding is above their vanity and presumption, -- in proportion as they are more disposed ot listen to the cousels of the wise and good, in preference to the flattery of knaves. Society cannot exist, unless a controlling power upon will and appetite be placed somewhere; and the less of it there is within, the more there must be without. It is ordained in the eternal constitution of things, that men of intemperate minds cannot be free. Their passions forge their fetters. "
Unless we control ourselves, we will be controlled by authoritarians who are controlled only by their own interests. We are here. The consequences await. It will not be to our liking.
The consequences of defund the police are but a manifestation of what is happening in a larger society. Unt
I would disagree. The major cities where "defund" was pursued are reversing course. The city councilmembers in those cities who supported "defund" have started singing a different tune. Many now deny they ever defunded. Are there any exceptions to this?
I agree with Burke's argument on prudential freedom and evolutionary political change rather than radical transformation, but I disagree with his critique of abstract rights. Rights do not need to be grounded in the traditions of a specific society. Yes, each person's place in the societal fabric is important, and he makes a good point about "true liberty" as opposed to unchecked license, but he undervalues personal freedom and overvalues property rights, which made more sense to do in 1781 than it does in 2023.
Keep in mind, Burke favored gradual and orderly reform but he was not opposed to revolution when needed. In fact, he greatly admired the Revolution of 1688.
This is one of the very best articles I have read on this topic. I am happy to be a paid subscriber!
When I first heard of "defund the police", I immediately suspected it meant "demoralize the police", which seems to be what has happened.
I am happy to hear you felt that way! Indeed, there are too many stories of demoralized police leaving their roles. This is not the way.
There is little indication that the ethos giving rise to "defund the police" has abated. The major Democrat controlled cities are run by progressive activists, which seems to be fine with the voters. Ditto for our public schools, which currently exist as intuitions of indoctrination, not education. Equity is stressed, excellence is discouraged. The human resource departments of major corporations a seek diversity, equity, and inclusion in their hiring. Management and the BOD are fine with this. We can see where California is headed. Our business and moral leaders have taken a back seat to activists everywhere. My overarching view says that the decline of religion, the decline of belief in a higher authority, removes the bonds that heretofore bound us together.
What is happening is well explained by an extracts from Edmund Burke's well known 1781 letter to a member of the French parliament:
"Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition to put moral chains upon their own appetites, -- in proportion as their love of justice is above their rapacity, -- in proportion as their soundness and sobriety of understanding is above their vanity and presumption, -- in proportion as they are more disposed ot listen to the cousels of the wise and good, in preference to the flattery of knaves. Society cannot exist, unless a controlling power upon will and appetite be placed somewhere; and the less of it there is within, the more there must be without. It is ordained in the eternal constitution of things, that men of intemperate minds cannot be free. Their passions forge their fetters. "
Unless we control ourselves, we will be controlled by authoritarians who are controlled only by their own interests. We are here. The consequences await. It will not be to our liking.
The consequences of defund the police are but a manifestation of what is happening in a larger society. Unt
I would disagree. The major cities where "defund" was pursued are reversing course. The city councilmembers in those cities who supported "defund" have started singing a different tune. Many now deny they ever defunded. Are there any exceptions to this?
I agree with Burke's argument on prudential freedom and evolutionary political change rather than radical transformation, but I disagree with his critique of abstract rights. Rights do not need to be grounded in the traditions of a specific society. Yes, each person's place in the societal fabric is important, and he makes a good point about "true liberty" as opposed to unchecked license, but he undervalues personal freedom and overvalues property rights, which made more sense to do in 1781 than it does in 2023.
Keep in mind, Burke favored gradual and orderly reform but he was not opposed to revolution when needed. In fact, he greatly admired the Revolution of 1688.