We should have a police force where we can provide them the benefit of the doubt. The trouble is, that trust has been violated so much, so often, that it likely can't even be quantified.
Such that, we, the public and the police need to start over. The trouble is, there is a too large percentage of the public that doesn't even see that there is a problem.
I tend to agree, Jimmy.
Imo there's at least 3 interwoven problems coming to a head here, possibly 4, possibly 5 or 6. I'm thinking them up as I type and edit. Lol.
1. The anti-African American bias/racism and associated/related white privilege that is still, unfortunately, at large, even if things are (arguably much) better than they used to be, say, 30-40-50 years ago. Similar things might be said about other non-white minorities. I would include both interpersonal racism/bias and structural/systemic versions, and include historical legacy factors, especially where these have not been properly addressed.
2. Police. There are general policing issues that affect more than just black people, but that adversely affect all civilians (and imo rebound adversely onto the police themselves).
3. Guns and gun culture. This (a) makes the police job very difficult and (b) police are an integral part of the gun culture themselves.
4. Trump. Or better to say the swing to the (populist) right that Trump represents and that he cashed in on. Some of the progress that was made (on race and other social issues, eg women's reproductive choices) has been or is in danger of being lost.
5. Demographics. A white majority is and has been in decline. In 25 years, whites will only be 33% of the demographic, I believe, if current trends continue. They will still very likely be over-represented in the establishment and in the higher socioeconomic categories however. This fact (the raw projected numbers/percentages I mean) understandably worries some, possibly many, white people, for a variety of reasons. This might be especially true of the not-so-wealthy and the poor whites, who, imo, do have a case for feeling at least somewhat politically neglected, which helps explain Trump's success, imo.
6. Money. First, economic hard times generally always lead to social problems and unrest, and the severe economic difficulties related to the Covid19 have come not all that long after the crash of 2007 and certainly many, of all races (but perhaps especially certain minorities, especially blacks) were and are still economically vulnerable because of that crash. Corporate globalisation and worsening modern job security and conditions for workers are not helpful trends in this regard. Second, there's the huge and worsening and imo toxic wealth inequality that no one with any strong clout seems to care about addressing or be able to rein in. Third, the USA is losing ground in international terms. It is no longer the way-out-in-front economic superpower it once was. Though it is still a very big, strong player.
Those aren't listed in any order of priority. Number 6 could easily even go top. List is not meant to be complete and is just my tupppenceworth. I am speaking in general terms, obviously, and as an observer from abroad.
ETA: I could also have listed:
7. Problematic African American culture. I realise that is controversial. I do think it could be included though, as a lesser factor. It is not just me saying it. And it is not just white people saying it either. It is a (meant to be honest but helpful) criticism which appears to come from within a concerned part of the African American demographic itself.
You may note I have left out 'Identity Politics' (in its recent incarnation and definition I mean) because although I recognise this as an issue, and that there may indeed have been (and still be) a bit too much of it from Democrats and even more so from the 'actual left', I think it is mostly (though not entirely) a red herring as an explanation (for the swing to the right) or is at least overstated. Maybe I should put it in as number 8 though. Not sure. It might arguably be included even if only because perceptions around it triggered a (conservative/white) opinion/sentiment backlash.
On balance, I think I should include it.
8. Identity Politics.
I have decided to leave out climate change and environmental concerns. Those factors might well start featuring more and more and more, and have huge and wide impacts on all the above (and other) issues, but they do not seem to be strong features of the current unrest (although they might be implicitly informing the responses of some progressive protesters, who may have in the past supported things such as Occupy Wall Street, or Extinction Rebellion, etc etc).
I also decided, rightly or wrongly, to omit social media, even though it might be playing a role in various ways, on all sides (and as such it may be a problem in some ways and a benefit in others).
on Twitter: "Kneeling during the national anthem was pretty damn peaceful, but many found that offensive.
