Dan Kahneman wrote:
I have to agree with you two (and Obama by the way) on this. Defunding the police not only is a bad idea it was horrendous politics. Your can't ask for a better situation for Republicans than to yoke all democrats to the defund the police movement during a time that rioting and looting was occurring nationwide.
The defund the police movement was born out of anger and revenge not out of well thought out policy to improve the situation.
Were there any actual politicians campaigning on defunding the police?
That's an idea from citizens and activists to allocate more resources to social programs to help diffuse a lot of police activity that deal with people with mental issues. And to take it down a notch on the large scale weaponry some police carry.
It gets attached to Democrats who have not uttered a word in support of the slogan.
It's a terrible slogan from a political view. I cringed when I saw it become popular and I knew Republicans would run with it. But these aren't politicians coming up with this.
So, I agree it's a bad slogan, But I disagree when you say it is not a well thought out policy to improve the situation.
Camden, NJ is an example of a crime ridden city that has improved with a redirection in its approach towards policing.
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/06/12/camden-policing-reforms-313750People aren't looking at the details, they are looking at the slogans.
Republicans are usually better at that, because most of their ideas are simple. Do nothing and let the "free market" work things out is their favorite.
Where Democrats have complex solutions to complex problems.