Policy Politics Police

Policy because this is what we call citizens' ideas for what government should do. Since citizens run government, it is citizens' ideas that matter most. This blog will be a forum for its contributors to comment on the operation of the United States Government and all the various localized governments within the United States federal system.

Politics because our citizen-politicians operate and compete for power in a forum in which political traditions determine the rules. Elections matter. Congress matters. State governments matter. Local governments matter. Neighborhood associations matter but really should be wholly out of the purview of the federal government.

Police because police officers account for by far the most direct violations of citizens' rights by members of any branch of government, and someone independent of the authorities should keep an eye on the authorities at all times to make sure the they never exercise their power illegally. Think of this blog's third mission as an online CopWatch program.

It occurs to me as I write that many refrain from criticizing the police out of fear of reprisals. Those same individuals would not hesitate to voice criticism of elected officials because elected officials cannot stop us on the street at anytime in the way police officers can. The state of affairs I describe is, of course, anathema to a free society. Communities need better lines of communication with their police departments. Citizens must control the means of communication directly. Citizens should learn legal means of controlling interactions with police officers. The mission of police departments should be minimized significantly in order to reduce and eliminate violations of citizens' rights.