Background
The phrase ACAB, "All Cops Are Bastards" seems to be more popular than it's ever been. It's an unsurprisingly controversial slogan. It arises out of the idea that people are "bastardized" or corrupted by taking on the job and responsibilities of an officer. But I think the growing visibility of this acronym can lead those already critical of the police (but want somewhere to start learning about it) and anyone open to reimagining the idea of justice in America to understand the vision of this statement and the passion behind those who wield the term.
MIT professor, linguist, author, political activist Noam Chomsky devoted much of his career to highlighting the dominant economic and political systems we all currently live in. Analyzing the structure and effects of the modern-day corporation is something he convinced me is necessary. Much of this piece is influenced by his analysis, speeches, and interviews.
Main
After college, most graduates either spend all their time looking for work or begin whatever they have lined up - whether or not it's related to their degree. To enter any field, new hires must adhere to its established norms and values. "Duh... isn't that obvious? You can't work a desk job and just do whatever you want whenever you want. Nothing will ever get done." Take the health insurance industry for example: Anyone in this field must at the very least be OK with the idea that monetizing people's health is normal, not immoral, or at minimum a necessary evil of the system we live in. Some may not think so. I don't doubt for a second that there are actuaries employed at Cigna who support the idea of universal healthcare. They just do what they have to do and say what they have to say because it's useful for their career. After all, you'll never get that promotion talking about how corrupt and greedy your employer is. Eventually, doing something because it's useful becomes indistinguishable from doing something because you believe in it. The outcome is the same. You've become part of the machine.
The same goes for police departments all across America. Many young men and women optimistically join their local PD with the intention of serving their community. Others may simply be attracted by the pay and benefits, something which can be especially attractive given the comically short time it takes to become an officer. Recruits must adhere to the established norms and values of policing, and often find a community within cop culture. They must at the very least be OK with enforcing unjust laws (displacing homeless people out of the public eye, preventing people from "stealing" garbage), or at minimum a necessary evil of the system we live in. "It's not optimal, sure. The system needs reform," says the good apple. At the end of the day, they just do what they have to do and say what they have to say because it's useful for their career. After all, you'll never get that promotion talking about how corrupt and immoral your police department is. Eventually, doing something because it's useful becomes indistinguishable from doing something because you believe in it. The outcome is the same. You've become part of the machine.
It seems that business and policing are similar in far too many ways. Uncritical devotion to your job is arguably more destructive as a police officer.
In the private sector, the health actuary finds ways to make insurance products as profitable as possible, which aims to maximize the market share and power of their company - every day on the job makes it all that more difficult to guarantee healthcare as a human right (since health insurance companies can lobby the government) and not a luxury. The police officer defends laws and follows orders, regardless of the morality behind both. Anything less will result in performance reviews or termination. Any confrontation between an officer and civilian has the potential to be a life or death situation. The idea of giving someone the authority to enforce order under the unchallengeable threat of violence or death, someone who can patrol undercover through your community (Because even being able to see them is too good for us. I'll make an exception for sting operations or any project that legitimately requires secrecy. This obviously isn't always the case, so the point seems ultimately irrelevant.), someone who's allowed to lie to and intimidate civilians, all in the name of justice almost seems to imply the existence of a perfect human being who can successfully perform all these duties.
It seems we have all been bastardized and must find a way out of it.
The State has made it abundantly clear it doesn't value human life enough to not entrust any person will these extraordinary privileges over their own citizens. The State is perfectly willing to sacrifice thousands of people at the hands of police so long as the public stays in line, or to convince them through propaganda that the forces are there to protect and serve them, that the majority of cops are "good people." How many have died due to a misunderstanding at the scene or even blatant acts of police brutality? Should reports of a drug addict who's out of their mind and causing chaos in the street be handled by somebody with a gun? You may say yes, since tensions between law enforcement and the public are too great now to relieve cops of their weapons. To an extent, I agree. But the tough-on-crime mentality leads to more militarization, which leads to more distrust both ways, which will eventually lead to an irreversible war-like mindset between cops and the public. The feedback loop is inevitable without radical changes to the system.
End
This is why we should completely reevaluate our conception of justice in this country. One person will always prove powerless in trying to dismantle or change the unjust systems they participate in. Good employees won't make their industry put anything before profit, and good cops won't correct the criminal justice system. A mass popular movement of an informed and uncompromising citizenry is the most promising way forward.
Comments