If You Fear Cops, Have Doubts About America’s Justice System, and Feel Helpless, You Are Not Alone
Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart
A fact and a serious problem rarely discussed in America is
our nation’s entire justice system. At best, a grade of C- is appropriate. Some of these problems did not exist 70-80
years ago. However, when politics gets involved, the worst always happens. This
is America in the 21st century.
WHAT AN ORIGINAL BABY BOOMER EXPERIENCED
I am an original baby boomer, born in the summer of 1946.
Although I was born in Idaho, my home, the place where I was raised, was in
West Los Angeles, California.
Where I grew up, most of the people living around me were
white. I think my youth like the cover on the Saturday Evening Post. Each issue
had a print of a Norman Rockwell painting displaying the most pleasant
situations and occasions in our nation’s history. The one which made the greatest
impression on me was a single policeman, in his blue uniform, handing an ice
cream cone to a boy. I believed this was an accurate depiction of the
relationship between law enforcement and the people they swore to “serve and
protect.” That all changed when I Was 16 years old.
THE HIDDEN TRUTH ABOUT AMERICA’S HISTORY
At my mother’s insistence, I attended a Catholic high school
for two years. When I received my class schedule for my junior year, I was extremely
upset. None of the classes I wanted were not on the list. I would be forced to attend
classes involved in subjects which I disliked and were of no interest to me. After a serious discussion, my mother allowed
me to leave the parochial school system and attend a public high school for my
junior year. Little did I know that my education had just begun.
To this day, I am opposed to private schools. True education
is limited by institutions which eliminate the diversity which is our nation’s
greatest treasure. Not until my 16th year did I know the seriousness
of prejudice in my country.
THREE AMERICAS
America has always been a democracy, but elements of
socialism and fascism are also ingrained in our society. Unemployment
insurance, SNAP, and Medicaid are necessary and socialism. All law enforcement
and military organizations are fascist and could not exist if their day to day
operations if governed by the ideals of democracy.
Because all law enforcement agencies are fascist, they have
powers not available to the average citizen. When these powers are abused, a
separation between the people and those whose primary purpose is to protect us
is inevitable.
The American people are seldom “united.” The primary reasons
are obvious. We are a divided nation. There is “white” America, “black” America,
and an America divided by income inequality.
Like law enforcement and the courts, politicians in
Washington have power over the people in the 21st century. This was
not the intent of our Founding Fathers. Our system, called a Democratic
Republic, was created with the intention of insuring that the people were part
of the system. All three branches of our government exist for one reason: to
serve and protect the needs and wishes of the majority, not to rule over them.
It seems like those times existed a long time ago.
10 YEARS OF TYRANNY AND FASCISM
Once again, the truth no one else will tell you. The former
Republican Party began its demise and embraced the beginnings of fascism in
1981, 45 years ago. When Ronald Reagan became our country’s 40th
president, he began to reveal himself. His campaign promises were nothing but
lies.
Reagan began his presidency with a rule requiring every
Republican politician take an oath swearing that he or she would offer absolute
loyalty to their party’s leader. There would be no dissent, no suggestions, and
no deliberation and compromise with Democrats. On that day, our Democratic
Republic was dissolved. A hierarchy had been established, and the primary
aspect of a fascist regime.
Trump has completed Reagan’s plan in just 10 years.
FROM THE “FRIENDLY BEAT COP” TO THE AMERICAN GESTAPO
I trust no one who has power over my life. This includes law
enforcement. I no longer feel comfortable in their presence; I feel
intimidated.
My Black friends in high school informed me of the
differences between the treatment they received from law enforcement compared
to my own. Every black child receives instructions regarding how they must act
in the presence of “cops” before their first day of school. Today, I am able to
better understand how they felt, and why the Black community refuses to trust
and respect anyone with a badge.
This situation grew ran the late 20th century
when the “boys in blue” disappeared and were replaced by men and women dressed
in military-style uniforms, driving military vehicles, and using military
tactics to control peaceful protests. And yet the slogan “to protect and serve”
remained on their cars.
With this information, we can better understand why the
military and law enforcement agencies support the leader of the American Nazi
Party, Donald John Trump. The orange buffoon has a personal Gestapo calling
themselves ICE. They are more likely to discharge their weapons when innocent
citizens are involved than legitimate and trained officers.
OUR ENTIRE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS PREJUDICED
When law enforcement officers arrest an individual, they are
likely charged and forced to appear before a judge in a court of law. Our “cops”
may be corrupt, but compared to our court system, they are angelic.
The United States of America incarcerates 25 percent of all
men and women serving time in penal institutions. However, our entire
population is less than 5 percent of the world’s nearly 8.3 billion people.
America’s recidivism rate is also the highest at nearly 68 percent. Our country
punishes its imprisoned population instead of rehabilitating them. Black
Americans compose abut 13 percent of the population, and about 38 percent of
all prisoners in our jails and prisons. The average income before imprisonment
was about $19,985, well under the poverty level. However, Republican
politicians continue to deny the fact the poverty and crime have a clear
relationship.
If you are in the low-income or poverty levels of our society,
it is highly likely that you will receive the maximum punishment for your
crime. However, the rich and powerful rarely pay for their crimes and receive a
minimum sentence or none at all.
Think I’m wrong? Trump committed treason on January 6, 2021.
I watched all three hours of the darkest day in American history. On January
20, 2021, your former president violated the Espionage Act He will never be
punished for the most egregious crimes possible in America.
A nation without laws cannot survive. How much longer will
America exist?
Op-ed by James Turnage
Follow my blog and be and informed American
My 10 novels are available on Amazon’s free Kindle App
Sources: Britannica.com: Extreme Nationalism
pbs.org: How Trump's
rhetoric compares to historic fascist language
.jpg)
Comments