The incident with a Seattle Police Officer punching a 17-year-old woman in the face has caused much controversy. I commend the young women involved for their courage in standing up to legal plunder. by Darren Wolfe
(libertarian)
Friday, June 18, 2010
The recent video of Seattle Police Patrol Officer Ian P. Walsh punching a 17-year-old woman in the face as she tries to help her friend evade him has caused much controversy. There is an understandable reaction among many decrying the young women's lack of respect for authority. This is correct, they do lack respect for the police, but the question is why?
Let's start with the jaywalking citation situation in Seattle. As the rest of us around the country are now learning, Seattle is quite tough on jaywalkers. Even doing stings to catch the evil doers. All this, of course, is claimed to be for public safety, but is it really?
Like so many cities in our recession ravaged land Seattle has a budget shortfall. It is cutting services, which makes politicians mad as they have less pork to pass around. Naturally, they look for additional sources of revenue. Many cities abuse traffic citations and parking tickets to this end, but Seattle seems to have decided to go back to issuing excessive numbers of jaywalking citations to raise more money. They resort to this kind of legal plunder to avoid raising taxes or increase the deficit, hiding behind the guise of protecting the public. People know what's going on. It's just a form of robbery. When the police become a blue gang enforcing an extortion racket they command no respect. All they have left is their ability to use violence to get people to submit, a situation guaranteed to foster police brutality.
Instead of criticizing the young women for disrespecting a police officer they should be commended for their courage in standing up to him. It is only by not tolerating government abuses that we can put an end to them.
Did you like this article? If you did, Thumb It! 6
thumbs so far
The views expressed
in this article are those of Darren Wolfe only and
do not represent the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates.
Darren Wolfe is solely responsible for the contents
of this article and is not an employee or otherwise affiliated
with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
Posted By: Bentree
Date: June 18, 2010 02:58:46 PM
I agree that Governments are extortionist. But going to war over Jay walking and then assaulting the pohlice officer. I'd say the dumb a--- ate her up.
Posted By: Billy Roper
Date: June 19, 2010 08:38:51 PM
I would stand behind this officer 100%. One can clearly see that the two women are physically forcing him into a position where his back would have literally been against the wall. Not a good position to be in when you are so outnumbered. They also were between him and his squad car, which he could not allow. He was within his rights. Actually they screwed themselves recording this, she clearly tries to strike the officer before he punched her, that is assault of a police officer, and can normally get one up to five years in prison.
"let me put dis cell phone down. I fixin bus yo ass."
Unfortunately this officer will probably lose his job. Rev. Al and Brother Jesse are probably on their way to Seattle as we speak.
Posted By: Darren Wolfe
Date: June 20, 2010 07:05:57 AM
Billy,
Thx for the comment.
Your POV isn't unusual but only makes sense if you think cops have legitimate authority, which I don't. First, they get paid with stolen money (taxes & tickets). Second, they are engaging in what Bastiat called legal plunder. When the cops become the thieves they deserve punishment not praise. The jackbooted thug in uniform should at least lose his job.
