Should public sector police unions be dismantled/busted?

[CommonSenseDemocrat]

There are several issues I grapple with here. In favor of police unions, there is the issue of freedom of association and generally, support of labor. In opposition to police unions, there is the issue of do unelected police unions disparage the rights of citizens and do they have undue lobbying power. Also, are they favored more than other public sector unions?

11 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	Yes
	3 (27%)
	No
	8 (73%)
	Other
	0 (0%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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[KamaAina]

1. Reformed, yes. Dismantled or busted? Nope.

[Aerows]

2. I'm with you.

There definitely needs to be some reforms made, but no, I wouldn't call for them to be dismantled anymore than I would call for Fire Fighters or Teachers Unions to be dismantle.

We have a significant need to reform a lot of things in our current local and state governments, much of it due to economic challenges.

[daleanime]

3. +1

[Gidney N Cloyd]

32. Agreed.

The scope of their participation in police department affairs, and ultimately justice, is out of whack.

[deathrind]

34. Since "reform" was not...

A choice I voted yes.

After watching the NY PBA President Patrick Lynch throw the temper tantrums on tv like he did they definetly need to be reformed.

[Squinch]

4. WTF??? What has happened to DEMOCRATIC Underground?

This is tea-bag shit.

Unions are all that keeps a middle class in America. No unions should be dismantled.

[KamaAina]

5. I imagine the OP is frustrated with police unions' stonewalling of brutality cases

as am I. But that's not a reason to bust them completely, any more than corruption was in the Jimmy Hoffa era.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

30. Exactly

Fix it, don't destroy it.

The only time I'm in favor of "dismantling" a union is if the membership votes to do so.

[clarice]

7. Reign it in, and consider discussing the issues. nt

[Squinch]

9. Back at ya and thanks tons for the comportment advice.

[clarice]

11. You're welcome..we all get carried away sometimes. Me included. nt

[Squinch]

14. I see that.

[clarice]

15. Well then...we're good. have a great weekend. nt

[clarice]

8. Even though that was what busted GM ?nt

[CommonSenseDemocrat]

12. I voted no to my own question, but I do have serious concerns to police unions advocacy of trampling

on citizen rights. In New York, for example, police disciplinary records are kept confidential always. I don't think that's fair.

[libodem]

6. Yes

They are corrupt.

[clarice]

10. Just got through reading a non-biased book on Unions....very disturbing in their...

accounting practices.

[darkangel218]

23. +1

[La Lioness Priyanka]

13. i think unions are for people who lack power. since when do cops lack power.

i am not sure they need to be dismantled, as they may be essential for negotiating salary etc. However, they should not get to dictate whether or not there needs to be civilian oversight committees etc.

[clarice]

17. Yes... but the Unions themselves wield TREMENDOUS power. Not all of it good.nt

[La Lioness Priyanka]

20. that's sort of my point, people unionize to gain power. when the powerful unionize

that power just magnifies a lot.

[clarice]

21. True..but I think that the rank and file...

Union membership opinion is not always fairly represented by the Union leaders.

[Brickbat]

16. Jesus Christ I hate this place sometimes.

[clarice]

18. Why ?? .nt

[Squinch]

28. I'm with you.

[hunter]

19. I think most cops are unqualified, and many are rotten.

New police should be recruited from a pool of experienced middle school teachers.

Anyone who can handle a large classroom of middle schoolers without wanting to shoot at least some of them probably has what it takes to be a good cop.

[clarice]

24. What would they use as a negative reinforcement tool..a yard stick? nt

[hunter]

26. Shooting or physically assaulting people is not civilized behavior.

Not as a teacher, not as a cop.

[clarice]

27. Not trying to fight...but curious.....

How would you, as a defender of the people, counteract a gun totting robber?

[hunter]

35. How would you handle an out-of-control eighth grader?

Some of those kids are big. (Some bite too!)

I don't call the police for most things, because the police might shoot someone.

Here's how I see the typical cop:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Empire_State_Building_shooting

Most human beings turn into fucking idiots when they are holding a gun in their hand, cops included.

[darkangel218]

22. I support unions, but in this case, yes they should .

Until the corrupted PDs clean up their act.

[clarice]

25. + 1000.nt

[bigwillq]

29. No (nt)

[clarice]

31. Even if they are found to be corrupt? nt

[bigwillq]

33. Yes

If they are found to be corrupt, they should clean up their act. But they should still exist.

[Iggo]

36. Disarmed until reformed and rehabilitated.

[mwrguy]

37. FDR was opposed to public workers being able to bargain collectively

just one of his many illiberal positions.

[HereSince1628]

38. But, they're heroes! Don't you know they rush in to make the sound of guns?

Ten percent of homicides in the US occur at the hands of a group of people given guns by the government, completely known to the government and completely controllable by government.

That's the same percent that some hyperbolic reports have blamed on persons with mental illness.

Guess which group executive actions want placed under greater scrutiny?