I was chatting with an acquaintance earlier today. I said something to the effect of “I would consider it the worst parenting fail if my daughter became a cop”. This acquaintance then asked why that was, probably with about 50% indignation and 50% genuine curiousity.

Honestly, I kind of drew a blank. Like, I know how to explain it in a long post or like a missive, but I really couldn’t think of how to explain to someone who probably isn’t a leftist in just a quick comment. So I just went with:

“Well all they do is beat up on black kids”

Which… is of course correct. But tbh I fell that answer is just missing a lot. A beat later I almost said something about how cruel they are to homeless folks around here but by then moment had passed.

How would you all explain - in the span of a single one-liner - why cops are bad? I’m not looking to knock someone over with my impressive rhetoric or whatever. Not looking to convince them. Just so I can feel I articulated my position correctly. Just got my own sense of pride. Help me out here.

    • Venus [she/her]@hexbear.netEnglish
      11·
      1 year ago

      You can even just shorten it to “they enforce unjust laws.” It’s a great one liner because it so easily leads into all other sorts of conversation threads if the other person bites, and stands well on its own if they don’t bite.

      Unjust laws like what? Vagrancy laws, private property laws, etc.

      What if they’re really good cops and don’t enforce any of those laws? Then they get fired.

      Can’t we change the system and fix those unjust laws? Sure, maybe, but until we do the people who uphold the law are bad.

      And so on.

      • CombatLiberalism [he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
        4·
        1 year ago

        In the same vein, if you happen to be talking to someone who puts a lot of stock into the 2nd amendment I’ve found some (limited, sometimes the brainworms are just too tangled) success by asking “who do you think would enforce a gun grab?”

        It’s like a 60/40 where sometimes the brainworms take over and they wholeheartedly believe every cop would join them and take up arms against the government