# Defund the police is a great idea - to help Trump **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 8, 2020, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-the-police-is-a-great-idea-to-help-trump/855272 "2020-06-08T21:10:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-the-police-is-a-great-idea-to-help-trump/855272/41 "2020-06-09T16:52:16Z")
Trump is so clumsy and inflammatory that I don’t think he will benefit this time and Biden is sufficiently non-woke that he probably won’t be hurt. However the woke left isn’t going to anywhere and my guess is they will cause a world of hurt to Democratic politicians over the next decade and more. They have an uncanny genius for creating new wedge issues and slogans that are perfect for Republican attack ads. Abolish ICE. Reparations. Abolish the police. These issues aren’t going away and it’s going to be harder and harder for Democratic politicians, especially young ones, to oppose them. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-the-police-is-a-great-idea-to-help-trump/855272/42 "2020-06-09T17:01:37Z")
> [@Lantern](#): > > the woke left isn’t going to anywhere and my guess is they will > cause a world of hurt to Democratic politicians over the next decade and more. They have an uncanny genius for creating new wedge issues and slogans that are perfect for Republican attack ads. Abolish ICE. Reparations. Abolish the police. > These issues aren’t going away and it’s going to be harder and harder for Democratic politicians, especially young ones, to oppose them. Democrats are getting Tea-Partied. And no matter what, the woke left will become a stronger and stronger voice. If Trump wins, then that defeat will strengthen the progressive wing because they’ll claim that a centrist (Biden) couldn’t get it done. And if Biden wins, then the progressive wing will say “time for action” and feel emboldened by D power. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-the-police-is-a-great-idea-to-help-trump/855272/43 "2020-06-09T17:11:35Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Basically they are trying to get out of police Union relationships which have left the taxpeyers hogtied in terms of reform; and also move societal responses to many types of events away from “policing.” If you disband then you can reform. So the best word for this will come about eventually. It doesn’t seem like public officials are very confused about what it means though. It seems like something that’s time has come. Well if it’s REALLY about getting rid of police unions, they should say that. A lot of Republicans could get behind that. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-the-police-is-a-great-idea-to-help-trump/855272/44 "2020-06-09T19:40:52Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Perhaps. We’ll see what generates a more visceral reaction shortly. The rioters and anarchists did their cause a serious disservice. Yeah, especially the rioters in blue, beating heads, slashing tires, leaving old men bleeding on the ground… ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-the-police-is-a-great-idea-to-help-trump/855272/45 "2020-06-09T19:52:09Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > The best alternative slogan I can think of is “replace the police”, which is possibly better. Replace is good, because it makes it clear you’re talking about something more fundamental than reform but equally makes clear that there will be _something_ to replace the present system, which “defund” or “abolish” don’t. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-the-police-is-a-great-idea-to-help-trump/855272/46 "2020-06-09T20:33:41Z")
Remember how everyone was worried how “disband ICE” wasn’t a great slogan because it was pretty easy to interpret as “open borders”? Well, that all worked out fine, right? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-the-police-is-a-great-idea-to-help-trump/855272/47 "2020-06-09T20:34:00Z")
“Replace” is nearly as bad as “Defund”. Replace with what? National Guard? Military? The wait staff from a shuttered restaurant? Look, it’s time to admit that this was just a poorly thought out idea and move on with a plan of action that is actually feasible. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-the-police-is-a-great-idea-to-help-trump/855272/48 "2020-06-09T20:40:56Z")
Bah, everybody had a round of collective pearl-clutching over “Abolish ICE” 2 years ago, and Trump is polling worse than ever. In a few months, this too will pass over into nothingness. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-the-police-is-a-great-idea-to-help-trump/855272/49 "2020-06-09T20:43:27Z")
You don’t have two years until the election for everyone to forget about this one though. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-the-police-is-a-great-idea-to-help-trump/855272/50 "2020-06-09T20:49:40Z")
When authority repeatedly ignores pleas for meaningful reform, then you have to go beyond mere incremental change. There is a clear and compelling need to change the way that law enforcement polices and regulates behavior in our communities. We need to reset expectations, and this applies to not only police but all public institutions. There are times when we have to forget how opponents are going to spin it, and just act. If we worried about how opponents of civil rights would spin integration, we’d still be segregated. If we worried about how opponents would spin Medicare or Obamacare, we’d have neither. Sometimes, you gotta say ‘eff’ their opinions and move forward, critics be damned. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-the-police-is-a-great-idea-to-help-trump/855272/51 "2020-06-09T21:04:05Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > “Replace” is nearly as bad as “Defund”. Replace with what? National Guard? Military? The wait staff from a shuttered restaurant? > > Look, it’s time to admit that this was just a poorly thought out idea and move on with a plan of action that is actually feasible. Who are you talking to? These things are already underway, terminology or not. No one is really that confused anymore. What did they replace the air traffic controllers with? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-the-police-is-a-great-idea-to-help-trump/855272/52 "2020-06-09T21:07:19Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > When authority repeatedly ignores pleas for meaningful reform, then you have to go beyond mere incremental change. There is a clear and compelling need to change the way that law enforcement polices and regulates behavior in our communities. We need to reset expectations, and this applies to not only police but all public institutions. > > There are times when we have to forget how opponents are going to spin it, and just act. If we worried about how opponents of civil rights would spin integration, we’d still be segregated. If we worried about how opponents would spin Medicare or Obamacare, we’d have neither. Sometimes, you gotta say ‘eff’ their opinions and move forward, critics be damned. Isn’t that exactly what the Sanders campaign said about “Democratic Socialism”? Some labels are like that tattoo you were warned you’d live to regret. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-the-police-is-a-great-idea-to-help-trump/855272/53 "2020-06-09T21:08:24Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > What did they replace the air traffic controllers with? Computers, mostly. Might be a bit soon for Robocop. But hey, let’s give it a try. You never know. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-the-police-is-a-great-idea-to-help-trump/855272/54 "2020-06-09T21:48:17Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > You don’t have two years until the election for everyone to forget about this one though. I don’t think it will take 2 years. I think everybody forgot about abolishing ICE in 2 months, everybody forgot about Sandy Hook in 2 months, everybody’s already forgotten how close we came to ginning up a war with Iran to distract from Trump’s impeachment proceedings (which also have been forgotten). Of course the Trumpkins will try to keep it alive until November, but anybody with 2 functioning brain cells understands the difference between hyperbole and reality. And they’re saying this looks to be a very busy hurricane season this year! Whee! ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-the-police-is-a-great-idea-to-help-trump/855272/55 "2020-06-09T22:00:48Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Remember how everyone was worried how “disband ICE” wasn’t a great slogan because it was pretty easy to interpret as “open borders”? This is exactly why we can ignore any concerns about how Trump supporters might spin things. They were already 100% convinced Democrats all wanted open borders. The “abolish ICE” phase did not push that number above 100%. It has not fallen below 100%. Trump supporters will wail and gnash their teeth over “abolish the police or whatever”. It won’t work because they have no answer whatsoever to police violence except that it’s probably fine. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-the-police-is-a-great-idea-to-help-trump/855272/56 "2020-06-09T23:09:53Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Bah, everybody had a round of collective pearl-clutching over “Abolish ICE” 2 years ago, and Trump is polling worse than ever. In a few months, this too will pass over into nothingness. Abolish ICE never went national except on Fox News. It definitely helped that so many Sanders/AOC candidates got squashed in the 2018 primaries and it was easy to pivot to no kids in cages rather than having open borders stuck on you. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-the-police-is-a-great-idea-to-help-trump/855272/57 "2020-06-09T23:15:53Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Computers, mostly. > > Might be a bit soon for Robocop. But hey, let’s give it a try. You never know. :dubious: > **[Will “Air Traffic Controllers” Be Automated or Replaced By Robots?](https://www.replacedbyrobot.info/70546/air-traffic-controllers)** > > “Air Traffic Controllers” will almost certainly not be replaced by robots. Want to know more? Visit now! > [@](#): > > 11% Chance of Automation > > “Air Traffic Controllers” will almost certainly not be replaced by robots. > > This job is ranked #178 out of #702. A higher ranking (i.e., a lower number) means the job is less likely to be replaced. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-the-police-is-a-great-idea-to-help-trump/855272/58 "2020-06-09T23:17:49Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Computers, mostly. > > Might be a bit soon for Robocop. But hey, let’s give it a try. You never know. No scabs? I like robocop. He is programmed not to suffocate humans. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-the-police-is-a-great-idea-to-help-trump/855272/59 "2020-06-09T23:22:20Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > Well if it’s REALLY about getting rid of police unions, they should say that. A lot of Republicans could get behind that. I think that Rs should really think twice about that. How many ways can you all think of to shoot yourself in the face? Have at it. If you lose the police unions you are left with who? Jerry Falwell? It will be lonely. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-the-police-is-a-great-idea-to-help-trump/855272/60 "2020-06-10T00:37:21Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > It won’t work because they have no answer whatsoever to police violence except that it’s probably fine. Maybe. I think the reason it won’t work is because disproportionately elderly swing state voters have already decided that Uncle Joe is a safe choice. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-the-police-is-a-great-idea-to-help-trump/855272.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-the-police-is-a-great-idea-to-help-trump/855272.md?page=4)