Personally, I believe that A CAB. Yes, all cops are bastards, no exceptions. Yet I have met people who think that cops in socialist countries aren't bastards.

My reasoning is that it is a position of power over your fellow citizens/countrymen/people and only bastards would be attracted to such positions. While a person may go in with "good intentions", invariably they will be at some point in their career be expected to do something "not good": cover up for a colleague, arrest someone for law they don't agree with, beat somebody up, and so on. If they do it and remain a cop, well they are a bastard, no matter how many old ladies they help cross the street or whatever.

Let's also not pretend that a full communist utopia where every single law/regulation/rule is fair is possible in our lifetimes (or at all likely), there'll always be people who will want to abuse their power and take control, cops are an easily bought section of society that makes it possible for them. Historically, cops have always sided with the aristocracy/bourgeoisie/land-owners/those with money.

Your thoughts?

  • robotElder2 [he/him, it/its]
    ·
    22 days ago

    It's a question of what is meant by "bastard". Does it just mean someone interpersonaly shitty or is it being used as a shorthand for a more specific political characteristic? In a capitalist society any cop is a class enemy by definition and therefore a bastard in the political usage of the word regardless of their individual character. Under socialism I would expect the role to still attract aggressive unpleasant people for the reasons you list but they wouldn't be betraying us for our bosses just by putting the uniform on.

    • multitotal@lemmygrad.ml
      ·
      22 days ago

      but they wouldn’t be betraying us for our bosses just by putting the uniform on.

      In a perfect world, sure. But the problem still remains of giving certain people authority over all others. I wrote in another comment that the problem is the scope of their power/authority. Why can't we have neighbourhood police whose only job is to police the neighbourhood/village/small area? Why does the police have to have country-wide powers?

      • 420blazeit69 [he/him]
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        22 days ago

        Why can't we have neighbourhood police whose only job is to police the neighbourhood/village/small area?

        That's most police in the U.S., if you include cities.