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(Post #1) Why is it so Hard to Hold Police Accountable?

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(Post #1) Why is it so Hard to Hold Police Accountable?

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Reflection: The two most important things I have learned from this source are the "rotten roots" behind the development of our police force (such as the origins of our police stemming from slave patrol groups) and the various factors that make it difficult to hold officers accountable for their offenses (such as police unions, police contracts, and in place judicial rules).

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Police are supposed to "protect and serve" the community, but that's a far cry from what modern-day policing often looks like in our country. The recent murders of Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, George Floyd, and others highlight the need for drastic systemic change, yet again, as Americans across the country take to the streets in protest.

"The reason I'm out here is because I have two college degrees, but yet I'm still treated like I'm nothing," one protester in Brooklyn told At Liberty this week. "I'm tired of hearing, there are a few rotten apples. There's not a few rotten apples. The tree is rotten. The tree is rotten from the roots up."

ACLU Policing Policy Advisor Paige Fernandez joined us on the podcast this week to walk us through the history of our problematic policing systems, and explains both why it's so hard to hold police accountable, and how the ACLU plans to address this immense problem moving forward.

You can listen to the episode here:

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Why is it so Hard to Hold Police Accountable?

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Police are supposed to "protect and serve" the community, but that's a far cry from what modern-day policing often looks like in our country. The recent murders of Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, George Floyd, and others highlight the need for drastic systemic change, yet again, as Americans across the country take to the streets in protest.

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Sound of da Police by KRS-One is about the issue of the police's abuse of power. The message the song is that the police have always been inherently racist and the policing system itself is corrupt at its core. This issue matters to me because I myself am a minority who faces unfair treatment by officers and I would like there to be a safer environment for not only myself, but for other groups who face this unfair treatment.
"Take the word overseer, like a sample
Repeat it very quickly in a crew, for example
Overseer, overseer, overseer, overseer
Officer, officer, officer, officer
Yeah, officer from overseer"

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KRS-One - Sound of da Police (Official Video)

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Based on my political beliefs I am a moderate. For example, I believe that minorities are facing discrimination from police which tends to be more liberal. However, lower taxes is important to me which reflects a more conservative view.

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(Post #4) My Political Socialization - Family

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(Post #4) My Political Socialization - Family

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My family has had a significant impact on my political socialization. Both of my parents came out of poverty yet somehow they had contrasting political ideologies. My dad who leans more conservative believes that people cannot rely on government handouts and through hardworking, they can achieve their personal success. This is most likely due to the fact that he grew up poor in gang-ridden East LA during the 80's with his parents and 4 brothers. He claims that the government hardly did anything to fix the area or help the families living there, he had to work his way through all of it until he became successful; this idea of hard-work was implanted in him throughout his experience. My mother on the other hand, grew up poor in Fresno when it was still just a small farming town with her parents and 3 sisters. Her family heavily relied on welfare from the government to survive since her mom was a homemaker. This government assistance helped her throughout her life and even put her through college which is why she leans more liberal.

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(Post #5) My Political Socialization - School

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(Post #5) My Political Socialization - School

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My school also played an important role in met political socialization. Going through high school, I was taught by several different Social Science teachers who had varying political ideologies and it was apparent  what they aligned with when they taught. While each of them taught based on their side of the political spectrum, they all taught me to never blindly trust a source of information and to always do additional research about a subject. My more liberal teachers taught me about civics and social programs that could help those that are unfortunate while my more conservative teachers taught more about the economy and powers the government holds. From my experiences of both sides of the political spectrum during my high school career, I formed a more moderate political ideology.

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After taking the political typology quiz, the party I most align with is neither yet according to the results I tend to lean more conservative. The political typology that the quiz associated me with was New Era Enterprisers. Since I lean more conservatively, the political party that I am most likely to align with is the republican party. Looking at the political views of the republican party, I can see that it poorly reflects my opinions on the policy issue of police brutality. Many who are apart of the GOP believe that African Americans and other minorities are at fault for the violence being enacted on them because of their refusal to comply with law enforcement. If anything, they believe organizations such as BLM and Antifa are causing anarchy in our country and want their to be more funding for police as a means to restore law and order. My opinion on police brutality is that discrimination within our police force exists within law enforcement; I believe the government needs to step in and try to regulate the violence that is committed on us citizens by the people that are supposed to protect us. Most likely, I would register to vote as an independent voter.

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Pew Research Center - U.S. Politics & Policy

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Take our quiz to find out which one of our nine political typology groups is your best match, compared with a nationally representative survey of more than 10,000 U.S. adults by Pew Research Center. You may find some of these questions are difficult to answer. That's OK. In those cases, pick the answer that comes closest to your view, even if it isn't exactly right.

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Take our quiz to find out which one of our nine political typology groups is your best match.

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(Post #7) Party Affiliation at Different Times

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(Post #7) Party Affiliation at Different Times

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In different time periods my political affiliation would have changed. Since I lean more conservative I may have been associated with several conservative political parties of the past. In the 1790s, I most likely would have been an Anti Federalist who would have advocated for a less powerful central government. In 1820-1850, I most likely would have been associated with the Whigs who were in support of the economic program labeled The American System. In 1860-1877, I most likely would have been a Democrat who opposed the Republican reform during reconstruction; however, I cannot see myself being in favor of slavery so perhaps I may have instead chosen to be Republican. In 1877-1932, I most likely would have been a Republican who opposed the idea of increased government action during the progressive era. In 1932-1980 I most likely would have been on the side of Republicans who opposed the the increase in social programs during the great depression and the campaign for civil rights.

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Party Systems: Crash Course Government and Politics #41