My own crazy recommendation would be to restructure our society in such ways as would reduce violence between its members. Increase the peace. Anyone who truly believes that they can fully insulate themselves and those they love from the violence endemic to US society is deluding themselves. Those who do not care about the violence because they think they are insulated are of dubious moral integrity.
Our economy seems set up always to be dominated by some of the most rapacious among us and organized mostly to facilitate their rapacity. In my view one of the chief manifestations of that rapacity is through "trickle down" violence. That is what we need to change. Focusing on policing the final manifestations of that violence only serves to contain it to some degree. Policing will never really succeed in greatly reducing violence, IMO. And then the sensational violence serves to distract from the rapacity at the top. As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
In situations like this I like to remind myself, and others who will listen, of those who have paid the ultimate price for society's shortcomings, the horrifyingly large numbers of our fellow man who have become the victims of senseless killings. We owe them more than casual mention. I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears
Thank you for this diary. I intended to reply directly to your personal experiences earlier, but my reply was wiped clean by a malfunctioning electrical system - so I gave up. I quit a career in law enforcement years ago owing in large part to some of the frustrations and depression you feel so I do respect your continuing in the field of criminal justice for so long under such conditions. I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears
