Posted on 11/13/2020 4:07:30 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defended her support for “defund the police” Thursday night after an election season in which Republicans weaponized the mantra to paint Democratic opponents as anti-cop and soft on crime.
Democratic leaders complained that two issues closely associated with AOC - defunding the police and socialism - contributed to Democratic losses in House races last week.
AOC defended her position when a 14-year-old student asked her during a virtual town hall meeting to define the meaning of “defund the police.”
Ocasio-Cortez, the Democratic Socialist congresswoman admitted that some critics were “apoplectic” over defunding the police.
But she complained that too much funding is pumped into the NYPD at the expense of other preventive safety measures, such as mental health workers and school guidance counselors.
“I believe the path toward justice is a long arc. Safety is not just an officer with a badge and a gun,” the congresswoman said.
“Our [police budget] is too high,” she said, citing a $6 billion figure for the NYPD.
She said unchecked spending on the NYPD “becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy” and crowds out spending on other needs such as housing and health care.
“It’s about a budget shift,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
Moreover, she said many of her constituents complain that “too many people” are killed by “police violence” - with protests erupting after the police-related death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
“It’s my job to listen. We need to invest in those other types of safety,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
“We need to stop being so reactionary,” she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
If this fraud of an election holds for the socialists, I’ll support the defund the police movement. It’s time free Americans defend themselves, their families and the United States.
“AOC defended her position when a 14-year-old student asked her during a virtual town hall meeting...”
Stop the presses. An intellectual lightweight of a congressman was asked a question by a child.
Also defund the military specifically the army. The USA cannot be trusted with a standing army. Give those funds to the navy.
I support the idea that people who don’t pay taxes aren’t paying for police so they shouldn’t have them.
The Philadelphia police showed their true colors when they “escorted” the Republican poll watchers out of the room where they were counting votes. It was a slap in the face of President Trump who supported the police all through the riots and talk of defunding. As far as Philly goes, defund them and let the Soros backed Mayor and District Attorney get what they deserve.
Apoplectic? See, she went to collage. She’s much smarter than the average bartender.
Yes, and I'm sorry that some decent people will be affected but we are entering a time where hard choices have to be made. Again, if the election theft holds, it will be time for people of good will to relocate to safer areas, where they can join forces with others and #Resist.
Yep, it's the 80/20 rule; 80% of city services are used by 20% of the people, and most of them are non-productive people prone to criminality and socialism.
They’ll end up giving the NEW police MORE money to come after us. The military will become their Gestapo. Gird your loins brothers and sisters.
Using what? The weapons we won’t be allowed to use?
I recall a vulnerable British girl using a sword!
Using what? The weapons we won’t be allowed to use?
I recall a vulnerable British girl using a sword!
So you're telling me you won't defend yourself & family because the State invalidates your 2A? If so that's your problem.
They will eliminate the police as we know them, and set up a national police force that allows minorities to kill and steal, and arrests Whitey for saying words like “niggardly.”
I support the idea of defunding public education. I pay taxes through the nose for schools in property taxes.
Welcome to the show AOC--your fellow staunch commies are all elbowing into the center of the water trough.
Maybe AOC should do a 'community crime breakdown' - - research which neighborhoods create the crime that drives up the cost of policing so high.
Here's a hint AOC... IF black neighborhoods in large cities dropped their crime rates to the same as white and brown communities police budgets could be cut in half with no noticeable difference in protection.
We don't need 'fewer cops' we need fewer criminals.
The black community needs to stop protecting their thugs and start protecting the victims of black criminals.
Right - they wouldn’t even be “defunding the police” in their area - they don’t “fund” them anyway. The financial deterioration in these welfare reservations is caused by a lack of hosts/”makers”; they are instead filled with “takers” who contribute little to nothing.
Newark NJ is seeing a spike in Red Chinese flu in a couple of areas; these are the places where people are still working (primarily Hispanic). The businesses in those areas (yes, they still have businesses where the makers live in Newark) all re-opened, and I don’t think they’ll abide by any ruling to shut down. There is something in the “macho” culture that prevents them from sitting idle; there are no panhandlers in those parts.
“Public education” was never part of this country’s founding - for exactly the reason you describe. Too many non-users are footing the bill, while too many users are paying nothing.
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