A Major Rethink is in Order.

Somebody way back when decided we really needed a bunch of folks to be hired at top dollar, organized into paramilitary organizations, trained only minimally, and then uniformed, weaponsized and turned loose on our highways and byways.  

To extort us, you and me, out of $Big Bucks.

Sort of like, "I know you pay all sorts of taxes to live here, but it's not enough; we want MORE!  MUCH more!"

I'm talking about the nearly One Million sworn LEO's (Law Enforcement Officers) we must pay, patrolling our streets, just looking for a chance to swoop down upon us.  Like hungry lions on the Sarengheti.  Hiding behind a bush and awaiting a passing gazelle.

And then they attack!  Blue lights flashing and sirens blaring, serving to put the fear of God into us!

Is there anyone out there that doesn't get a tight butthole when you see those lights in the rear window?  It seems a bit extreme to me to equip these cops with uniforms and guns and tasers and billy clubs and handcuffs, and big cruisers with those hated blue lights.  Only to then write 10-over tickets to the inattentive among us.  They've got radar in those flashy cruisers, and LIDAR, looking to chase us down and exert their control upon us.  

I'm not accusing all of our LEO's of being bullies, just a few.  The ones who were bullied themselves on the playground of life, most likely.  Whether during recess in the 4th grade, or fired from a job at Amazon, or by an ex-husband/wife/partner, I'm of the opinion far too many of them are looking for some payback.

I've written earlier that I've been unable to learn just how many of our LEO's are LEO's as a first choice.  Somehow that info isn't available.  Maybe because nobody besides me is asking for it.  But they should be.  Maybe far too many of our cops are cops as a third choice.  And perennially pissed off about it.  And when you blend that into the "us vs. them" policing mentality they are taught to believe, it can be a recipe for disaster.

They can wind up taking it out on you and me.  And with an average speeding ticket in Taxifornia coming in at $675.00, a week's pay for many, we should make sure the cops we turn loose on the public are cops as a lifelong dream.  Sworn to use the Constitution as their guide.  And nothing else.

It takes 3 years to be a fully-trained and vested cop in Austria, as an example.  4 years in Holland.  It takes 6 months here in the U. S. of A.  

I'm thinking mid-level policing agencies, staffed by guys in sport coats and only minimally marked cars, using their powers to stop folks to remind them of their responsibilities only.  And only when necessary.  No corporals or sergeants or lieutenants.  Just peaceful reminders.  That don't scare the pee out of us.  Call them Peace Keepers.  Call them Community Outreach Officers.  Call them Traffic Control Agents.  Whatever you wish, I don't care.  Just don't call them cops or police or constables or sheriffs deputies.  No tasers or billy clubs.  Just guys in coats and ties.  Positioned in areas where such reminders are necessary.  Concentrating on moving violations, with no quotas to fill.  

Only after several such "reminders" would we have the uniformed cops come visit and start writing tickets.  I think it would cause us to stop hating and start loving our cops again.  Sound reasonable?  

How about this.  If our towns and cities and states need more tax money, pass some legislation.  Stop silently extorting it from the taxpaying public.  Particularly the public which must drive a lot but can't pay a lot.  There are 256 towns in America which take in more than 100% of their annual budgets from ticket revenue.  There's one town in Ohio which has 2,600 residents and 55 cops.  Another Ohio wide spot in the road has one cop for every five residents!  AAA calls them "speed traps."  Staffed by crooks who are living large on the backs of folks just passing through.  Fomenting hate and discontent among the populace.    

It causes us taxpayers to start looking for the torches and pitchforks.  

Nomsayin'?