I’ve been to left-wing protests and right-wing protests. I’ve been in a riot. I’ve looted. I’ve been to fever-pitched religious services and concerts that might as well have been welcoming the Messiah. I’ve been in the mob and of the mob.
I’ve been treated fairly, unfairly, and downright lied to by the police. I’ve run and I’ve been arrested. After smashing my car in a drunk driving incident and almost killing someone, I was treated so well by the officer that I got second chances I didn’t deserve.
I’m friends with police officers, I know they’re human beings like me. I know the same line between good and evil that runs through my heart runs through theirs.
There’s a legal monopoly of violence held by the State and its enforcement arm. That’s what makes the police a problem. When violence is a viable and effective tool, it will be used. Just as screaming at a child will cease unwanted behaviour, for a time, so will beating individuals who will not comply with governmental orders.
For the present legal system to work, there must be cooperation between police, judges, and lawmakers. A law is passed with an understanding that the lawmaker doesn’t need to justify its existence, so long as the police officer enforces the threat of violence. The judge understands that it is difficult to compel people to do what they don’t want to do, so is sympathetic to the police. These branches of government protect each other as they know that the system and their livelihoods depend on it.
It is a natural human instinct to recognize allies and favor them.
Solutions to a system sustained by violence are difficult. They must be radical to change our perspective on how law is enforced. They must be specific so we can have honest discussions and real steps we can take.
I’m educating myself with a variety of sources, but Tom Woods has offered a tidy list of episodes that he’s done on this subject. They run around 30 minutes and deal with theoretical and practical concerns. I hope to be able to write more clearly on what to do about the police in the coming days and weeks.
Ep. 1664 On Looting and Police Brutality, With Eric July
Ep. 1429 Scott Horton on the Police, the Military, and Other State Institutions People Make Excuses For
Ep. 1255 The Problem With Government Police
Ep. 1172 The Problem With Government Police
Ep. 901 Police Officer Discovers Libertarianism, Quits
Ep. 426 The Shocking Kill Rate of American Police
Ep. 388 Is America a Police State? Here’s the Evidence
Ep. 88 The Economics of the Police State
Ep. 51 The Paramilitary Police
God bless, thank you, I appreciate you,
Jason