(Replying to PARENT post)

Societal structures arise to manage contradictions in society on behalf of the ruling class. One example of this is policing in the US: modern day policing arose from slave patrols [0]. This societal structure of slave patrols arose to manage the contradiction in society of slave uprisings or slaves running away on behalf of the slave-owner class.

The government is also a societal structure that arises in society to manage contradictions between classes on behalf of the ruling class. In the US the laws and enforcement benefit the ruling class.

Until a different ruling class takes over, America will continue to subsidize affluence rather than alleviate poverty.

[0]: https://naacp.org/find-resources/history-explained/origins-m...

👤EarthIsHome🕑2y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

> One example of this is policing in the US: modern day policing arose from slave patrols [0].

This seems poorly supported, even by the cited article - it just says there was a group A doing X, then A doing Y, then later the police did Y too.

And, what about:

- police forces outside the South?

- influence from policing around the world, especially England?

👤davidgay🕑2y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

Every time I hear about slave patrols becoming police departments it smacks of a genetic fallacy: just because some slave patrols became police departments is that really a good explanation for why the Chicago PD or LA PD are bad?
👤janalsncm🕑2y🔼0🗨️0