This is part of the stupidity that just burns me up over police officers just being drug through the fires. Today I see the senate plan for reform. To the best of my knowledge the stuff on this plan is the same stuff thats already in place and has been for years. Here in South Carolina we get use of force training all the time, diversity, tactics, domestic violence, liability, whatever kind of training you can think of, its constant and all the time. I say this all the time, state, county, city, town, no police department wants to get sued. Training is constant and all the time. Video cameras, I don't know of a department around here thats not been using and mandating the use of cameras for years. Then of course there are the stats. Police departments collect and report more stats these days than you know what to do with and these are all reported every month to the FBI. The stats don't back up any of this crap you see in the media. If you look at total number of contacts or just total number of arrest per year across the whole country vs the number of people killed by police, the police are doing an amazing job. Nobody wants to look at the actual numbers though and trying to collect more changes nothing.

@Lexpd1145 I do not advocate the removal of police. They have one of the most dangerous jobs where their life is on the line every day. I would never disrespect the courage and the difficulty of following their rules of engagement. Sure there a few bad people in every walk of life as well as the police. I totally agree with your assertion that we are not being given the whole story. The fact is that police killings (almost all necessary) are about 25% black and 75% white. What I find disturbing is the tendency to make everything black or white on both sides. If we can achieve clarity and separate fact from hyperbole we can achieve a better outcome.

@Pand0ro I am with you here. There are bad officers, there are officers that simply do not have the skills to do the job, there are officers that in the moment simply make bad decisions. In my opinion the fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks was a bad shooting. There are certainly shootings involving other races that are unjust and tragic. These get no attention, certainly no protests, and the victims are largely ignored. All this loss of life is tragic and the outrage should be universal.

Valid point.

Wide spread corruption in all forms of government IS The image of America! Sorry to burst your bubble

Alinsky was one horrible human being...

And Obama decends, ideologically that is, straight from the Alinsky line of demented ideology. Clinton, Killary that is, too.

True patriotism is wanting and working for what will keep our country strong and long lasting. All the flag waving, chanting USA, wanting to wipe out the American opposition, shouting that the USA is the greatest, strongest and best country in the world and the only one that counts is useless. It is the easy way to feel good and powerful without having to take any responsibility for working at it. The only way to make America great again is to get off our asses and media and try to see things as they really are. Most points of view have some valid ideas along with the inevitable bullshit contained in them. Work hard at sorting out what is real and using it to try to put together a better way to deal with things.

@Pand0ro I feel that the erosion of patriotism ( not stupid and useless boasting) goes hand in hand with the erosion of our morals and values and both have lead us down this road we are currently on. I stand by the conviction that if you have no pride in this country you will just stand by and watch as its torn down.

@Lexpd1145 Which seems to be happening under the watch of a mostly conservative system. Pride is a sin, it leads to self-serving solipsism. What we need is true love of country that acknowledges our shortcomings and inspires the desire to make us better.

@Pand0ro solipsism eh? I will certainly admit I had to look that one up. Happening under conservative watch. Conservatives are not responsible for attacks on patriotism. Pride is a sin. While I will agree that anything to excess is bad, the total lack of is also bad. "What we need is true love of country that acknowledges our shortcomings and inspires the desire to make us better. " Sounds like a bunch of fluffy talk. There is no shortage of people wanting to point out shortcomings in the country/world. You now have a large group of people being persecuted and labeled as racist because of their race. This will never inspire to be better. It is and will just garner resentment. I see no common ground sir or miss, so will have to agree to disagree on this one.

@Lexpd1145 I also feel disappointed. I was raised Catholic and was taught to examine my conscience. I was taught that Christ taught humility. I fail to see how trying to see all the factors in a problem can be a bad thing. That pride goes before the fall would be valuable to consider.

@Pand0ro Raised Catholic as well and as stupid as it sounds I firmly believe in the power of the golden rule. Everyone should be treated with respect, no matter what choices, opinions, or lifestyle. There are endless things I might not enjoy, believe in or even approve. However I believe in your freedom to pursue your life as you see fit, as long as you don't enfringe on someone else's rights.
If I gave the impression that I thought looking at all factors was bad, that was not my intent. I also would attempt to clarify my stance on pride and patriotism. Anything to excess is folly and bad things result. I am of the opinion that there is a total lack of pride in our country and the work we do in this country. I personaly feel like we need more of it and should be more accountable for ourselves. I look at the work around me, the things I buy, the services I pay for, it is now very seldom I come across someone that takes pride in the things they do. That is a shame.