Sheriff Joe Arpaio's style of law enforcement has been ineffective and is leaning toward the establishment of a police state in order to "control" crime. We seem to forget that his techniques have been tried over and over again throughout history with little in the way of positive results. Violence begets violence. Chopping off the hands of beggars who steal a loaf of bread never ended theft. Bringing runaway slaves to "justice" at the end of a rope, or worse, never ended the growing unrest among enslaved people in the South. The Romans murdered whole populations, burned their towns and salted the soil. What ever happened to the Roman Empire?
Sheriff Joe Arpaio will never bring about peace and security through the use of fear and force. Unless we believe that we are safe under a police state.
During the late 40's, 50's and 60's, America's Working Class bustled with plenty of jobs. The Middle Class prospered and a growing Upper Middle Class took on shape. Crime was at its lowest during these robust days. Certainly among the disenfranchised crime flourished. Desperate people use desperate means to survive. But with unemployment below 4%, and even shown as low as 2%, city streets, highways, neighborhoods, schools and parks were considered safe.
There is no easy solution, but we are at across road. Do we roll up our sleeves and build a healthy society with good jobs and hope for a future? Or do we arm every Hollywood Hero and Macho Gun Toting Maverick in the hope that they will bring peace to our crumbling land?
Curious Carl
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