HavasuJim's Blog

Some of the more Liberal Democrats running for office have been accused of wanting to get rid of police departments. I think what they really meant, at least I hope so, is to cut police budgets and spend more on social programs. Those few who really do want to defund the police really need to have their collective heads examined. As a lifelong Democrat, it is my humble opinion that instead of defunding the police, we need to take a microscope to the hundreds of social programs out there. Yes, there are many that mean well and some that actually accomplish something. But there also lots of programs that are just make work programs for those with degrees and no other job opportunities. So…hold on to your hats my fellow Dems. My proposal is to defund many social programs and INCREASE funding for police. It has been done before. Not by Reagan. Nor Bush. Nor Trump. But by that President, still reviled by the Right today. None other than Bill Clinton. He got together with that right winger, Newt Gingrich to get Congress to fund the hiring of something like 100,000 new policemen across the country. Crime dropped dramatically. Unfortunately, the Congress wouldn’t spend the money to keep the program going and local police departments could not afford the extra salaries either. And by the way, it was these two politicians, from totally opposite sides of the aisle who also not only balanced the budget but created a surplus. All for the good of the country. Can you imagine that happening today? Me neither.