[from occupied ga]

that the LEO works to protect society. The convenience store clerk has no such duty

So your premise is that government serves the people and that because of this members of the elite government class are more important than ordinary members of society? (Just trying to see if I understand what you're saying)

If this is the case, then

1. the government in Philly is egregiously failing in its duty to protect the citizens. I saw something to the tune that about 100 citizens were murdered so far this year, and
2. to me that failure is far worse than the failure of the government to protect four of its agents.

I submit that the ordinary citizens are at least as important as the government agents because the government is supposed to be an extension of the citizens, not a separate entity designed to wax fat from the serfs citizens. I think we have irreconcilable differences.

[rjsimmon]

So your premise is that government serves the people and that because of this members of the elite government class are more important than ordinary members of society? (Just trying to see if I understand what you're saying)

No. My premise is that there are certain members of society that dedicate their lives to the preservation of society (police, firemen, military, etc.) and are given special trust and confidence. Society holds them to a much higher standard because of the trust given. As an extension, special consideration should then be given when these members of society fall in the line of duty. We hold no State funerals for the average Joe, nor should we. His family bears this burden, whereas society pays tribute to their honored dead. They are in no wise 'elite' but are indeed more important in the respect I have outlined.

LEO's defend the defenseless and often give their lives in this service. We should honor them for this sacrifice and focus our righteous anger at those who take their lives maliciously.

Your point about the government failing to protect four of its agents, is a logical fallicy. The point is that a member of society (criminal) murdered another member of society that held sacred trust and bore the burden of protecting the weak. Your argument should not be that government failed the agent, but that the agent died while in the performance of his government appointed duties. Just as an invading force must defeat the enemy stronghold in order to enforce its will on the vanquished, the criminal element must defeat the law enforcement officers to enact their will on the lambs of society.

As I stated in my first post, every murder is tragic. However, those people who bear the burden of protecting society should be given special consideration because of their largess.