Re: Question for John McAdams

Loathe as i am about entering a one-to-one debate but i just have to 
mention the disingenuous use of polls by John McAdams where he 
cherry-picked one statistic to misrepresent its findings.

>>>You mean like defunding the police? A majority of blacks oppose that:

>>> https://news.gallup.com/poll/316571/black-americans-police-retain-local-presence.aspx

The Gallop poll did not ask a question about defunding the police.

The Right like to misinterpret defund the police to mean disband and 
dismantle. Not even BLM advocate such.

Indeed previous polls show only 22% of Black Americans favor abolishing 
police departments. However, the vast majority believe reform is needed, 
with upward of 90% favoring specific reforms aimed at improving police 
relations with the communities they serve and preventing or punishing 
abusive police behavior.

BLM supporters suggest that city and State financing for law and order is 
overly generous (much like military and defense spending, i might add) and 
that takes much needed local budget allocation away from the many social 
support services which also contribute to lower crime levels.

Defund simply means reducing and redistributing police department budgets. 
It's estimated that over $115 billion is spent on policing nationwide 
every year. In 2019, NYC allocated $6 billion to its police department 
— a budget that exceeded more than that of the health department, 
homeless services, youth and community development, and workforce 
development combined.  In Minneapolis, 35 percent of the city budget is 
for police. Oakland, Calif. $242.5 million policing costs. over 40% of the 
total city's spending.

The evidence that promoting community support services reduces crime is 
set out in this analysis

https://journals.sagepub.com/eprint/VThwp5JSFz7eNKF5GkxW/full

The very same poll you quote also reflects the lack of trust in the 
policing of African American communities.

"...Fewer than one in five Black Americans feel very confident that the 
police in their area would treat them with courtesy and respect [compared 
to over half of white Americans]...When factoring in those who are at 
least somewhat confident that the police would treat them well, a majority 
of Black Americans (61%) are generally confident, but this is still below 
...91% of White Americans..."

That is one big gap.

You also omit to mention a conclusion drawn from the poll you cite.

"...Most Black Americans want the police to spend at least as much time in 
their area as they currently do, indicating that they value the need for 
the service that police provide. However, that exposure comes with more 
*trepidation*..."

If the US Right wishes to be satisfied with the status quo and rest upon 
its laurels when it comes to law and order, it will be another sign of a 
gradual drift to becoming a failed state. Nobody wishes that to happen.