On Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 6:18 PM, Jordan Hayes <jmhayes at j-o-r-d-a-n.com> wrote:
> L.W. Wacko writes:
>
>>
>> So what is your point?
>>
>
> That it's unrealistic to "demand from police officers [...] that they
> behave professionally in all situations" (your words, your demand), because
> no one who demands such a thing "behaves professionally" with cops. Every
> "professional" interaction includes different behaviors: contrast your
> lawyer, with whom you might share your most secret secrets; and your doctor,
> for whom you might drop your pants at the mere suggestion.
>
Unbelievable! Being criticized on a leftist listserve for being unrealistic.
Well if those are the new rules I guess we will have to put aside many of the following demands like:
U.S. Troops out of the Middle East, end support for Israeli occupation of Palestine. Hands off Cuba, Venezuela et al.! Living wages, decent housing, and health care for all! Pass card check, stop union busting, and we demand a fair contract! Stop deportations and amnesty for undocumented workers!
I guess socialism or even social democracy is also off the table. Jeez, the list could go on, but then we wouldn't be leftists now would we?
Maybe you thought I was simply saying we should simply demand good behaviour from individual police officers? Perhaps I should have been clearer myself.
How about that we should demand police accountability from the criminal justice system and political institutions?
> What we do know is ...
>>
>
> Well, we don't even know that. Do we? History, however, suggests that Mr.
> Gates' interaction with the cop was, uh, less than the "professionality"
> that you demand.
And? So Harvard professor Gates was a little grumpy from his long flight.
I have little doubt that he might have behaved like a real pompous ass.
But that is not the point.
The point is that we as citizens ought to, and have a right to keep the coercive powers of the state in check. In this and similar cases, having a legitimate reason for arresting someone. Is this such a controversial position for leftists? I know you are no right wing troll, so what the problem? Mere liberals would agree.
>
> Are you arguing we that we simply accept that the police can
>> arrest people because they are annoyed at their behavior?
>>
>
> Mr. Wacko, please meet Mr. Strawman.
>
FYI comrade Jordan, the "leftwingwacko" handle for the email and blog (inspired by this cartoon http://archive.salon.com/comics/tomo/2001/08/06/tomo/)
is kind of a fecetious fuck you to all the righty assholes that would call everybody on this list a "wacko".
I signed my name Sheldon, and you can address me as such.
Thanks, Sheldon
-- http://left-wingwacko.blogspot.com/