The Bigger Problem with Defunding the Police

I've been thinking a lot about what happens downstream of "defund the police."

Obviously one downstream effect is that criminals feel emboldened. And police head for the donut shop.

But there are other things to consider, such as my maxim that if you defund the police then you get vigilantes and gangs.

Why?  Because the whole point of police forces is so you don't have vigilantes and gangs and their rather loosey-goosey attitude towards rules of engagement.

When the police head for the donut shop, then vigilantes and gangs take their place.

The vigilantes show up in middle-class areas; the gangs in lower-class areas. And I suppose in upper-class areas you get private security: hired guns, darling.

Of course, all this was mere supposition on my part, an educated guess based on years of study and reading -- and the history of the banker William T. Sherman in San Francisco during the era of the "San Francisco Committee of Vigilance." 

That was until I read about the vigilantes of South Africa arising out the the recent riots and looting that were clearly started by real insurrectionists. It started on a Monday with 

small groups of saboteurs entered the malls... [then] literally tens of thousands of otherwise quite ordinary, peaceful people poured into the malls on foot and by car and completed the looting and firing of the shops. 

Then the vigilantes kicked in.

My community’s Whatsapp groups and local news channels kept pace with the mayhem and at mid-afternoon on Monday the expected call went out for all armed citizens to gather at designated points. Our hastily appointed commander advised us that all roads had been cut off by rioters and efforts to raise support from the police, army and local ruling party civic representatives had failed. The State had gone AWOL.

Within 24 hours, a functioning operational command had been set up, barricades were erected at six access points and stickers issued to emergency workers to speed progress. A communication system operated through a mobile app with military efficiency and infrared drones surveyed the surrounding bushland, their operators trying to separate human forms from bushbuck. Pickets guarded mobile phone towers, water points, electrical substations and schools. All of this had been cobbled together in hours by local neighbourhood watch groups, policing forums, private security and businesses.

Wow: drones! Imagine trying to do this with the bureaucrats at the FBI!

Now, here's another angle, from Crane Brinton and The Anatomy of Revolution, putting together the English, American, French, and Russian revolutions.

What is weird is that in all four revolutions, when it came to the first outbreak of violence, the old regime government was caught flat-footed. Each government totally flubbed its response to the provocation. The authorities responded to the violence, of course,

but in each case with a striking lack of success. Those of the ruling class responsible for such responses in all our societies proved signally unable to make adequate use of force.

In the case of the Fall of the Bastille, numerous soldiers actually joined the rioters.

Hmm. Did I not read somewhere that some of the police at the Capitol on January 6 actually let the rioters into the Capitol?

Hey you liberals, lefties, BLMs, AntiFas, House Speakers, Democrats, Pelosi Republicans, devoted activists and all the ships at sea! A word with you.

Is it not possible that, were a real "armed insurrection" by crazed right-wing racist-sexist-homophobes to materialize in this sacred land of activism the police might do a Bartleby, and say they "would rather not" shoot on the insurrectionists? After you chaps have been dumping on them for the last year and more? And sending the poor schmuck stuck with arresting some crazed drug-addled crook to jail?

And whatabout the armed forces, whose generals are busily saluting to the CRT folks and saying to the Bidenoids, "Yes sir, how high?" Do you not realize that the ordinary rank-and-file soldiers from the hills might not in fact obey their wokist officers when the regime chips are down?

Just sayin'.

My point is that the police and the military are doing the dirty work for you politicians and ruling-class swells -- so you don't have to. All they ask is a little respect, and maybe a nod and a wink when they make a mistake in the heat of battle.

Have you liberals, lefties, Democrats, and all the ships at sea ever thought about the strategic consequence of using the police and the military as punching bags so you can strut and fret upon the stage before your wokie supporters?

Maybe it's time you did, before it's too late.