[ZULU]

Police HAVE become a superclass. Especially in places where the state government is most liberal.

Powerful police lobbies in states like New Jersey have pushed the average salaries of police officers above $60,000 in some places, not to mention the additonal perks like overtime, double time and a half for holidays, extensive survivor benefits even if the cop just dies accidently in a non-service related incident, death ebenfits to divorced wives, etc. etc.

Its quite remarkable, but the U.S. managed to exist until shortly before the Civil War without any police force at all - anywhere. Just the militia and average citizens.

Teachers, lawyers, police, construction firms, and insurance
companies have become the nation's most powerful lobbies.

[templar]

Its quite remarkable, but the U.S. managed to exist until shortly before the Civil War without any police force at all - anywhere.

Yeah, but there were only a handfull of laws back then. And almost everyone obeyed them out of principle, not fear of the police.

[Don Joe]

Powerful police lobbies in states like New Jersey have pushed the average salaries of police officers above $60,000 in some places, not to mention the additonal perks like overtime, double time and a half for holidays,

There is a strange dichotomy. My brother inlaw is with the State Police, and his salary is in that range. But, I've known Sheriff's Deputies who made barely above minimum wage.

Teachers, lawyers, police, construction firms, and insurance companies have become the nation's most powerful lobbies.

Again, a dichotomy. My wife is a teacher, in a small town, and the teachers regularly get royally screwed. The union is very assertive about pushing for money for political agendas, where they have zero business playing around, but, when it comes to negotiating a fair contract for the teachers, they can't be bothered. So, the local board just steamrolls the teachers. The very top-heavy administration makes out like bandits, but the teachers (the ones doing the work) don't even get "raises" that keep track with inflation.

The teachers unions IMO will only bother to go to bat for the teachers in the "showcase" venues, i.e., big cities. Everyone else can FOAD, but pay up, or else. My wife takes the "or else" option. She refuses to "contribute" to any of their leftwing causes (same with quite a few other teachers here), paying only the bare minimum necessary for membership (which is still a ripoff IMO).

As to lawyers and insurance companies, I'm afraid I'll have to avoid saying anything about my sentiments, lest I lapse into obscenities.