[Music] thank you and good evening
thank you and good evening
thank you and good evening I’d like to start tonight by asking you
I’d like to start tonight by asking you
I’d like to start tonight by asking you all to participate in a short thought
all to participate in a short thought
all to participate in a short thought experiment if you could just take him in
experiment if you could just take him in
experiment if you could just take him in and see who’s who’s in the room tonight
and see who’s who’s in the room tonight
and see who’s who’s in the room tonight look down your road to the right look
look down your road to the right look
look down your road to the right look down your row to the left check out who
down your row to the left check out who
down your row to the left check out who got the good seats up front peek behind
got the good seats up front peek behind
got the good seats up front peek behind you and see who ordered their tickets
you and see who ordered their tickets
you and see who ordered their tickets after you did and while you’re doing
after you did and while you’re doing
after you did and while you’re doing this ask yourself a simple question do
this ask yourself a simple question do
this ask yourself a simple question do you think if you had to you could take
you think if you had to you could take
you think if you had to you could take everyone in this room tonight one on one
everyone in this room tonight one on one
everyone in this room tonight one on one in a fistfight if we turn this room into
in a fistfight if we turn this room into
in a fistfight if we turn this room into one massive free-for-all game of musical
one massive free-for-all game of musical
one massive free-for-all game of musical chairs would you be the last person
chairs would you be the last person
chairs would you be the last person seated now if you’re thinking yes or
seated now if you’re thinking yes or
seated now if you’re thinking yes or maybe I have a second question for you
maybe I have a second question for you
maybe I have a second question for you would you want to live your life that
would you want to live your life that
would you want to live your life that way would you want to fight your way
way would you want to fight your way
way would you want to fight your way home tonight even if you knew you could
home tonight even if you knew you could
home tonight even if you knew you could do so successfully what makes this a
do so successfully what makes this a
do so successfully what makes this a thought experiment and not a real
thought experiment and not a real
thought experiment and not a real problem is what philosophers like Locke
problem is what philosophers like Locke
problem is what philosophers like Locke and Rousseau called the social contract
and Rousseau called the social contract
and Rousseau called the social contract basically we each give up a little bit
basically we each give up a little bit
basically we each give up a little bit of liberty in exchange for mutual
of liberty in exchange for mutual
of liberty in exchange for mutual security we agree not to do whatever we
security we agree not to do whatever we
security we agree not to do whatever we want whenever we want wherever we want
want whenever we want wherever we want
want whenever we want wherever we want in exchange for the promise that no one
in exchange for the promise that no one
in exchange for the promise that no one else will be allowed to do so either now
else will be allowed to do so either now
else will be allowed to do so either now the social contract is not something you
the social contract is not something you
the social contract is not something you can see or something you can touch it’s
can see or something you can touch it’s
can see or something you can touch it’s something that you feel you feel the
something that you feel you feel the
something that you feel you feel the ease of daily life when the social
ease of daily life when the social
ease of daily life when the social contracts working and you feel
contracts working and you feel
contracts working and you feel frustrated and taken advantage of when
frustrated and taken advantage of when
frustrated and taken advantage of when you’re at a busy intersection and some
you’re at a busy intersection and some
you’re at a busy intersection and some impatient driver blows through the red
impatient driver blows through the red
impatient driver blows through the red light the social contract protects us
light the social contract protects us
light the social contract protects us from bullies and bad drivers and violent
from bullies and bad drivers and violent
from bullies and bad drivers and violent criminals by establishing a simple where
criminals by establishing a simple where
criminals by establishing a simple where relationship between you and the people
relationship between you and the people
relationship between you and the people and authority you agree to play by the
and authority you agree to play by the
and authority you agree to play by the rules of daily life and the government
rules of daily life and the government
rules of daily life and the government agrees to protect you from those people
agrees to protect you from those people
agrees to protect you from those people who can’t or won’t make the same
who can’t or won’t make the same
who can’t or won’t make the same commitment for this to work the
commitment for this to work the
commitment for this to work the government has to have some entity some
government has to have some entity some
government has to have some entity some agency that has overwhelming force so it
agency that has overwhelming force so it
agency that has overwhelming force so it can protect us all that agency is the
can protect us all that agency is the
can protect us all that agency is the police we empower the police with a
police we empower the police with a
police we empower the police with a monopoly over the legitimate means of
monopoly over the legitimate means of
monopoly over the legitimate means of violence in society that’s worth
violence in society that’s worth
violence in society that’s worth repeating we empower the police with a
repeating we empower the police with a
repeating we empower the police with a monopoly over the legitimate means of
monopoly over the legitimate means of
monopoly over the legitimate means of violence in society I want you to think
violence in society I want you to think
violence in society I want you to think hard about two words they’re about
hard about two words they’re about
hard about two words they’re about monopoly and about legitimacy in terms
monopoly and about legitimacy in terms
monopoly and about legitimacy in terms of monopoly the police are the only
of monopoly the police are the only
of monopoly the police are the only entity in society that not only has the
entity in society that not only has the
entity in society that not only has the right to use violence we expect them to
right to use violence we expect them to
right to use violence we expect them to use violence when the gunman was
use violence when the gunman was
use violence when the gunman was shooting people in the crowd at the
shooting people in the crowd at the
shooting people in the crowd at the concert in Las Vegas we expected the
concert in Las Vegas we expected the
concert in Las Vegas we expected the police do to you anything they could to
police do to you anything they could to
police do to you anything they could to stop him absent some special
stop him absent some special
stop him absent some special circumstances though you and I can’t use
circumstances though you and I can’t use
circumstances though you and I can’t use violence so maybe in self-defense but
violence so maybe in self-defense but
violence so maybe in self-defense but let’s say you’re walking down the street
let’s say you’re walking down the street
let’s say you’re walking down the street and you see someone who you’re
and you see someone who you’re
and you see someone who you’re absolutely certain has done something
absolutely certain has done something
absolutely certain has done something really horrible you can’t take that
really horrible you can’t take that
really horrible you can’t take that person and throw them up against the
person and throw them up against the
person and throw them up against the wall and spread their legs and Pat them
wall and spread their legs and Pat them
wall and spread their legs and Pat them down and check them for weapons and cuff
down and check them for weapons and cuff
down and check them for weapons and cuff them and throw them in the back seat of
them and throw them in the back seat of
them and throw them in the back seat of your car and take them someplace and
your car and take them someplace and
your car and take them someplace and interrogate them I like a bit i watch a
interrogate them I like a bit i watch a
interrogate them I like a bit i watch a lot of bad TV
if you did that you’d like you to be
if you did that you’d like you to be charged with kidnapping or assault but
charged with kidnapping or assault but
charged with kidnapping or assault but the police can do all of that and more
the police can do all of that and more
the police can do all of that and more if they have just a reasonable suspicion
if they have just a reasonable suspicion
if they have just a reasonable suspicion for suspecting that person we might go
for suspecting that person we might go
for suspecting that person we might go as far as to say that policing is
as far as to say that policing is
as far as to say that policing is defined by that monopoly over violence
defined by that monopoly over violence
defined by that monopoly over violence and that’s not because police are
and that’s not because police are
and that’s not because police are violent all the time because they’re not
violent all the time because they’re not
violent all the time because they’re not all the studies that look at what police
all the studies that look at what police
all the studies that look at what police officers actually do and they’re on
officers actually do and they’re on
officers actually do and they’re on their job suggests that a typical day
their job suggests that a typical day
their job suggests that a typical day for a patrol officer even in big cities
for a patrol officer even in big cities
for a patrol officer even in big cities is defined more by tedium than by
is defined more by tedium than by
is defined more by tedium than by violence rather the police are defined
violence rather the police are defined
violence rather the police are defined by their potential for violence and the
by their potential for violence and the
by their potential for violence and the simplest way to illustrate that is to
simplest way to illustrate that is to
simplest way to illustrate that is to think about how police themselves talk
think about how police themselves talk
think about how police themselves talk about regulating their use of violence
about regulating their use of violence
about regulating their use of violence police departments teach their officers
police departments teach their officers
police departments teach their officers they train their officers only to use
they train their officers only to use
they train their officers only to use enough force to subdue a uncooperative
enough force to subdue a uncooperative
enough force to subdue a uncooperative person and no more and to help police
person and no more and to help police
person and no more and to help police officers figure out what the appropriate
officers figure out what the appropriate
officers figure out what the appropriate force is for a given situation they have
force is for a given situation they have
force is for a given situation they have something called a use of force
something called a use of force
something called a use of force continuum now at one end of the use of
continuum now at one end of the use of
continuum now at one end of the use of force continuum are those serious
force continuum are those serious
force continuum are those serious questions about when police can use
questions about when police can use
questions about when police can use lethal force
lethal force
lethal force when is it legitimate for a police
when is it legitimate for a police
when is it legitimate for a police officer to fire their service revolver
officer to fire their service revolver
officer to fire their service revolver but I’m actually more interested in the
but I’m actually more interested in the
but I’m actually more interested in the first part the early part of that force
first part the early part of that force
first part the early part of that force continuum the other side if I were to
continuum the other side if I were to
continuum the other side if I were to ask you what the most frequent uses of
ask you what the most frequent uses of
ask you what the most frequent uses of force were by a police officer I think
force were by a police officer I think
force were by a police officer I think it would take a long time for us to get
it would take a long time for us to get
it would take a long time for us to get the answer and it’s a bit of a trick
the answer and it’s a bit of a trick
the answer and it’s a bit of a trick question but tricky and useful way the
question but tricky and useful way the
question but tricky and useful way the most frequent uses of force by a police
most frequent uses of force by a police
most frequent uses of force by a police officer are their presence at the scene
officer are their presence at the scene
officer are their presence at the scene and issuing a verbal command now some of
and issuing a verbal command now some of
and issuing a verbal command now some of you are thinking when you or when you
you are thinking when you or when you
you are thinking when you or when you issue when you show up somewhere an
issue when you show up somewhere an
issue when you show up somewhere an issue or verbal and tell someone to do
issue or verbal and tell someone to do
issue or verbal and tell someone to do something that’s not a use of force than
something that’s not a use of force than
something that’s not a use of force than your right but it is a use of force for
your right but it is a use of force for
your right but it is a use of force for the police an armed police officer in
the police an armed police officer in
the police an armed police officer in you
you
you form changes the definition of the
form changes the definition of the
form changes the definition of the situation for everyone involved and
situation for everyone involved and
situation for everyone involved and almost nobody refuses to follow the
almost nobody refuses to follow the
almost nobody refuses to follow the command of a police officer it’s the
command of a police officer it’s the
command of a police officer it’s the political sociologist I spend a lot of
political sociologist I spend a lot of
political sociologist I spend a lot of time thinking about things like
time thinking about things like
time thinking about things like monopolies over the use of violence and
monopolies over the use of violence and
monopolies over the use of violence and and social contracts I’m fascinated by
and social contracts I’m fascinated by
and social contracts I’m fascinated by the social contract I think in fact it’s
the social contract I think in fact it’s
the social contract I think in fact it’s my favorite abstraction it the reason I
my favorite abstraction it the reason I
my favorite abstraction it the reason I find it so fascinating is that I can
find it so fascinating is that I can
find it so fascinating is that I can come up with so many reasons why it
come up with so many reasons why it
come up with so many reasons why it shouldn’t work to put all that power in
shouldn’t work to put all that power in
shouldn’t work to put all that power in one place seems like a really risky
one place seems like a really risky
one place seems like a really risky thing and the notable act of citizens to
thing and the notable act of citizens to
thing and the notable act of citizens to surrender some personal liberty for the
surrender some personal liberty for the
surrender some personal liberty for the common good seems like something that
common good seems like something that
common good seems like something that shouldn’t happen either or not all the
shouldn’t happen either or not all the
shouldn’t happen either or not all the time I’m amazed some time the social
time I’m amazed some time the social
time I’m amazed some time the social contract was even contemplated much less
contract was even contemplated much less
contract was even contemplated much less achieved yet try as I might I cannot
achieved yet try as I might I cannot
achieved yet try as I might I cannot think of a better way of achieving
think of a better way of achieving
think of a better way of achieving civility in society which is why I’m
civility in society which is why I’m
civility in society which is why I’m concerned today about the state of the
concerned today about the state of the
concerned today about the state of the social contract even in the best of
social contract even in the best of
social contract even in the best of times it strikes me that as a society we
times it strikes me that as a society we
times it strikes me that as a society we should be having long difficult
should be having long difficult
should be having long difficult discussions about questions like what do
discussions about questions like what do
discussions about questions like what do we want the state to do to protect us
we want the state to do to protect us
we want the state to do to protect us what are the police doing right what are
what are the police doing right what are
what are the police doing right what are the police doing wrong what should the
the police doing wrong what should the
the police doing wrong what should the limits be on the police use of force
limits be on the police use of force
limits be on the police use of force what constitutes legitimate violence
what constitutes legitimate violence
what constitutes legitimate violence because in a democracy what the police
because in a democracy what the police
because in a democracy what the police do with that monopoly over the
do with that monopoly over the
do with that monopoly over the legitimate rights of violence they do in
legitimate rights of violence they do in
legitimate rights of violence they do in our name now unfortunately I don’t think
our name now unfortunately I don’t think
our name now unfortunately I don’t think these conversations are taking place in
these conversations are taking place in
these conversations are taking place in very much too often opposing households
very much too often opposing households
very much too often opposing households thick black lives matters and blue life
thick black lives matters and blue life
thick black lives matters and blue life matters signs up in their front yard and
matters signs up in their front yard and
matters signs up in their front yard and then in men name then they never talk to
then in men name then they never talk to
then in men name then they never talk to each other like many other things in our
each other like many other things in our
each other like many other things in our in our world today we’re having an
in our world today we’re having an
in our world today we’re having an increasingly hard time finding common
increasingly hard time finding common
increasingly hard time finding common ground on this issue now I don’t think
ground on this issue now I don’t think
ground on this issue now I don’t think 18 minutes is long enough for us to save
18 minutes is long enough for us to save
18 minutes is long enough for us to save the social contract this evening
the social contract this evening
the social contract this evening but I think we can make a start and I’d
but I think we can make a start and I’d
but I think we can make a start and I’d like to make a few suggestions on how
like to make a few suggestions on how
like to make a few suggestions on how first we have to acknowledge that not
first we have to acknowledge that not
first we have to acknowledge that not everyone experiences police the same way
everyone experiences police the same way
everyone experiences police the same way and therefore the social contract does
and therefore the social contract does
and therefore the social contract does not work the same way for everyone and
not work the same way for everyone and
not work the same way for everyone and the sentences that include words like
the sentences that include words like
the sentences that include words like police and violence do not sound the
police and violence do not sound the
police and violence do not sound the same to all of us I have not spent one
same to all of us I have not spent one
same to all of us I have not spent one day of my life worried but if I needed
day of my life worried but if I needed
day of my life worried but if I needed it the police would protect me nor have
it the police would protect me nor have
it the police would protect me nor have I ever contemplated
I ever contemplated
I ever contemplated sitting my child down and talking to her
sitting my child down and talking to her
sitting my child down and talking to her about how to navigate negotiate an
about how to navigate negotiate an
about how to navigate negotiate an interaction with the police but I know
interaction with the police but I know
interaction with the police but I know that not everyone in this country and
that not everyone in this country and
that not everyone in this country and probably not everyone in this audience
probably not everyone in this audience
probably not everyone in this audience can say the same thing we’re blessed and
can say the same thing we’re blessed and
can say the same thing we’re blessed and cursed these days with videotapes
cursed these days with videotapes
cursed these days with videotapes everywhere you get them on your phone
everywhere you get them on your phone
everywhere you get them on your phone you get them off the uniforms of police
you get them off the uniforms of police
you get them off the uniforms of police officers you get them off the buildings
officers you get them off the buildings
officers you get them off the buildings all over the community and what the
all over the community and what the
all over the community and what the evidence from these sources in many
evidence from these sources in many
evidence from these sources in many other places is telling us is that what
other places is telling us is that what
other places is telling us is that what the black community and other
the black community and other
the black community and other marginalized groups have been telling us
marginalized groups have been telling us
marginalized groups have been telling us for a long time is true that every
for a long time is true that every
for a long time is true that every interaction they have with the police no
interaction they have with the police no
interaction they have with the police no matter what they’re doing or how they’re
matter what they’re doing or how they’re
matter what they’re doing or how they’re behaving is pregnant with the
behaving is pregnant with the
behaving is pregnant with the possibility of misunderstanding of bias
possibility of misunderstanding of bias
possibility of misunderstanding of bias and of the unnecessary use of force I
and of the unnecessary use of force I
and of the unnecessary use of force I asked you earlier to think hard about
asked you earlier to think hard about
asked you earlier to think hard about the ideas of monopoly and legitimacy
the ideas of monopoly and legitimacy
the ideas of monopoly and legitimacy we’ve talked about monopoly it’s time to
we’ve talked about monopoly it’s time to
we’ve talked about monopoly it’s time to consider the idea of legitimacy for
consider the idea of legitimacy for
consider the idea of legitimacy for political scientists legitimacy is not
political scientists legitimacy is not
political scientists legitimacy is not say authenticity like it’s often used
say authenticity like it’s often used
say authenticity like it’s often used but more the right to Authority so if
but more the right to Authority so if
but more the right to Authority so if people believe that police have used
people believe that police have used
people believe that police have used force in an illegitimate way they’re
force in an illegitimate way they’re
force in an illegitimate way they’re less likely to follow the authority of
less likely to follow the authority of
less likely to follow the authority of the police and by extension the
the police and by extension the
the police and by extension the government
government
government if even more people do that the social
if even more people do that the social
if even more people do that the social contract is weakened and eventually it
contract is weakened and eventually it
contract is weakened and eventually it could be undermined there are all sorts
could be undermined there are all sorts
could be undermined there are all sorts of reasons to try to fix this problem
of reasons to try to fix this problem
of reasons to try to fix this problem the health of the social contract is
the health of the social contract is
the health of the social contract is just one of them the second thing is
just one of them the second thing is
just one of them the second thing is that I think we need to realize that the
that I think we need to realize that the
that I think we need to realize that the social contract is an unusual contract
social contract is an unusual contract
social contract is an unusual contract it’s an odd agreement in most contracts
it’s an odd agreement in most contracts
it’s an odd agreement in most contracts if all parties involved do not play
if all parties involved do not play
if all parties involved do not play their role the contract is nullified the
their role the contract is nullified the
their role the contract is nullified the social contract though actually
social contract though actually
social contract though actually anticipates that one of the major
anticipates that one of the major
anticipates that one of the major parties in the agreement won’t play
parties in the agreement won’t play
parties in the agreement won’t play their role citizens are supposed to
their role citizens are supposed to
their role citizens are supposed to follow the law and theirs and that helps
follow the law and theirs and that helps
follow the law and theirs and that helps the social contract work and if nobody
the social contract work and if nobody
the social contract work and if nobody filed the law we’d be in big trouble but
filed the law we’d be in big trouble but
filed the law we’d be in big trouble but the whole rationale for having a police
the whole rationale for having a police
the whole rationale for having a police force is the expectation that citizens
force is the expectation that citizens
force is the expectation that citizens are imperfect self regulators what is
are imperfect self regulators what is
are imperfect self regulators what is necessary is that citizens recognize the
necessary is that citizens recognize the
necessary is that citizens recognize the authority of the police to enforce the
authority of the police to enforce the
authority of the police to enforce the law so if you’re driving down the
law so if you’re driving down the
law so if you’re driving down the Turnpike and you start speeding you’re
Turnpike and you start speeding you’re
Turnpike and you start speeding you’re not necessarily undermining the social
not necessarily undermining the social
not necessarily undermining the social contract as long as you pull over when
contract as long as you pull over when
contract as long as you pull over when the state troopers turn their lights on
the state troopers turn their lights on
the state troopers turn their lights on behind you so the burden of up will be
behind you so the burden of up will be
behind you so the burden of up will be up upholding the law actually Falls
up upholding the law actually Falls
up upholding the law actually Falls primarily on the police not on citizens
primarily on the police not on citizens
primarily on the police not on citizens and as a result the bigger threat to the
and as a result the bigger threat to the
and as a result the bigger threat to the social contract is if police fail to
social contract is if police fail to
social contract is if police fail to restrain themselves not if citizens
restrain themselves not if citizens
restrain themselves not if citizens failed to restrain themselves so let me
failed to restrain themselves so let me
failed to restrain themselves so let me give you a recent story to illustrate
give you a recent story to illustrate
give you a recent story to illustrate this about two three months ago there
this about two three months ago there
this about two three months ago there was a shooting of a african-american man
was a shooting of a african-american man
was a shooting of a african-american man in st. Louis by a police officer and
in st. Louis by a police officer and
in st. Louis by a police officer and there were protests following the
there were protests following the
there were protests following the shooting
shooting
shooting so the protest went on for several hours
so the protest went on for several hours
so the protest went on for several hours and police eventually cleared the
and police eventually cleared the
and police eventually cleared the streets and the protest was over and as
streets and the protest was over and as
streets and the protest was over and as they were packing their things up to go
they were packing their things up to go
they were packing their things up to go home an Associated Press reporter was
home an Associated Press reporter was
home an Associated Press reporter was standing next to them as they packed up
standing next to them as they packed up
standing next to them as they packed up and he heard them start chanting
and he heard them start chanting
and he heard them start chanting streets our streets whose streets our
streets our streets whose streets our
streets our streets whose streets our streets now if you’ve been to
streets now if you’ve been to
streets now if you’ve been to demonstrations before you’ve probably
demonstrations before you’ve probably
demonstrations before you’ve probably heard this chant it’s a pretty popular
heard this chant it’s a pretty popular
heard this chant it’s a pretty popular channel on social movement activists it
channel on social movement activists it
channel on social movement activists it happened in fact it happened at that
happened in fact it happened at that
happened in fact it happened at that demonstration earlier in the day but
demonstration earlier in the day but
demonstration earlier in the day but this was police chanting whose streets
this was police chanting whose streets
this was police chanting whose streets our streets both the police and the
our streets both the police and the
our streets both the police and the protesters had staked some claim to the
protesters had staked some claim to the
protesters had staked some claim to the street in that particular neighborhood
street in that particular neighborhood
street in that particular neighborhood of st. Louis now I’m confident that both
of st. Louis now I’m confident that both
of st. Louis now I’m confident that both the police and the protesters were
the police and the protesters were
the police and the protesters were engaged in the little sarcastic
engaged in the little sarcastic
engaged in the little sarcastic exuberance here none of them really
exuberance here none of them really
exuberance here none of them really wanted to take control of the streets
wanted to take control of the streets
wanted to take control of the streets for a really long period of time but for
for a really long period of time but for
for a really long period of time but for the purposes of this discussion let’s
the purposes of this discussion let’s
the purposes of this discussion let’s assume that each had achieved their goal
assume that each had achieved their goal
assume that each had achieved their goal if protesters had decided to stay on the
if protesters had decided to stay on the
if protesters had decided to stay on the streets longer than their demonstration
streets longer than their demonstration
streets longer than their demonstration permanent let them and and to
permanent let them and and to
permanent let them and and to effectively take control of the streets
effectively take control of the streets
effectively take control of the streets for a period of time some people’s
for a period of time some people’s
for a period of time some people’s rights would have been violated cars
rights would have been violated cars
rights would have been violated cars would not have had to been able to get
would not have had to been able to get
would not have had to been able to get through businesses might have been
through businesses might have been
through businesses might have been affected but we have a response to that
affected but we have a response to that
affected but we have a response to that we have a remedy for that we have a
we have a remedy for that we have a
we have a remedy for that we have a police department that is there when
police department that is there when
police department that is there when citizens go too far but let’s
citizens go too far but let’s
citizens go too far but let’s contemplate the other possibility let’s
contemplate the other possibility let’s
contemplate the other possibility let’s contemplate the possibility that the
contemplate the possibility that the
contemplate the possibility that the police had decided that they were going
police had decided that they were going
police had decided that they were going to take control of the streets in that
to take control of the streets in that
to take control of the streets in that neighborhood but they were going to
neighborhood but they were going to
neighborhood but they were going to control who came in and who came out
control who came in and who came out
control who came in and who came out that they were going to hang out and
that they were going to hang out and
that they were going to hang out and they were going to do what was implied
they were going to do what was implied
they were going to do what was implied by the chant what order recourse have
by the chant what order recourse have
by the chant what order recourse have been to put this differently
been to put this differently
been to put this differently the police monopoly over the legitimate
the police monopoly over the legitimate
the police monopoly over the legitimate use of violence changes the meaning of
use of violence changes the meaning of
use of violence changes the meaning of the chant the third thing I think is
the chant the third thing I think is
the chant the third thing I think is that we must insist that as citizens and
that we must insist that as citizens and
that we must insist that as citizens and democracy we have to oversee the use of
democracy we have to oversee the use of
democracy we have to oversee the use of violence that’s done in our name
so that means rejecting versions of the
so that means rejecting versions of the social contract that say things like the
social contract that say things like the
social contract that say things like the police are the thin blue line view us in
police are the thin blue line view us in
police are the thin blue line view us in chaos that tell us that police use
chaos that tell us that police use
chaos that tell us that police use violence so that we do not have to and
violence so that we do not have to and
violence so that we do not have to and our only response should be gratitude
our only response should be gratitude
our only response should be gratitude and that those who are too critical of
and that those who are too critical of
and that those who are too critical of police put us at great risk so we should
police put us at great risk so we should
police put us at great risk so we should leave police alone let them do their job
leave police alone let them do their job
leave police alone let them do their job and if you can’t take it just look the
and if you can’t take it just look the
and if you can’t take it just look the other way
other way
other way well there are echoes of the social
well there are echoes of the social
well there are echoes of the social contract clearly in this argument
contract clearly in this argument
contract clearly in this argument it’s a malformed version of the social
it’s a malformed version of the social
it’s a malformed version of the social contract primarily because it absolves
contract primarily because it absolves
contract primarily because it absolves you and I of our responsibility for
you and I of our responsibility for
you and I of our responsibility for oversight gratitude does not mean that
oversight gratitude does not mean that
oversight gratitude does not mean that we shouldn’t that we should reject human
we shouldn’t that we should reject human
we shouldn’t that we should reject human values and engage citizens legitimize
values and engage citizens legitimize
values and engage citizens legitimize policing by participating in its
policing by participating in its
policing by participating in its oversight the more legitimate the police
oversight the more legitimate the police
oversight the more legitimate the police are the easier it will be that for them
are the easier it will be that for them
are the easier it will be that for them to enforce the social contract the
to enforce the social contract the
to enforce the social contract the policing is often said said to be a
policing is often said said to be a
policing is often said said to be a thankless job and I think we should
thankless job and I think we should
thankless job and I think we should thank them I really do I mean that
thank them I really do I mean that
thank them I really do I mean that sincerely I think the social contract
sincerely I think the social contract
sincerely I think the social contract falls apart without them and yet I have
falls apart without them and yet I have
falls apart without them and yet I have no doubt that what I’m suggesting makes
no doubt that what I’m suggesting makes
no doubt that what I’m suggesting makes their job harder I’m in effect
their job harder I’m in effect
their job harder I’m in effect suggesting that police need to be as
suggesting that police need to be as
suggesting that police need to be as brave and courageous to protect us all
brave and courageous to protect us all
brave and courageous to protect us all and yet they should be humble enough to
and yet they should be humble enough to
and yet they should be humble enough to have their work continuously discussed
have their work continuously discussed
have their work continuously discussed and reviewed I’m suggesting that they
and reviewed I’m suggesting that they
and reviewed I’m suggesting that they strive to be as professional as possible
strive to be as professional as possible
strive to be as professional as possible and hone their skills to the utmost
and hone their skills to the utmost
and hone their skills to the utmost level and that they should submit their
level and that they should submit their
level and that they should submit their professional opinions and on-the-job
professional opinions and on-the-job
professional opinions and on-the-job decisions to the oversight of the public
decisions to the oversight of the public
decisions to the oversight of the public to be clear my argument does not begin
to be clear my argument does not begin
to be clear my argument does not begin with the premise that the police are
with the premise that the police are
with the premise that the police are doing something wrong that’s a different
doing something wrong that’s a different
doing something wrong that’s a different discussion for another day rather it
discussion for another day rather it
discussion for another day rather it begins with the premise that they hold
begins with the premise that they hold
begins with the premise that they hold such a unique power that they exercise
such a unique power that they exercise
such a unique power that they exercise in our name that we must have oversight
in our name that we must have oversight
in our name that we must have oversight over what they do now I began this talk
over what they do now I began this talk
over what they do now I began this talk with a thought experiment and I readily
with a thought experiment and I readily
with a thought experiment and I readily admit
admit
admit that the social contract is a rather
that the social contract is a rather
that the social contract is a rather high-minded abstraction life is lived in
high-minded abstraction life is lived in
high-minded abstraction life is lived in the real world not in philosophical
the real world not in philosophical
the real world not in philosophical concepts but the values contained in the
concepts but the values contained in the
concepts but the values contained in the social contract provide a framework for
social contract provide a framework for
social contract provide a framework for civility that we should fight to
civility that we should fight to
civility that we should fight to maintain even if we know the result will
maintain even if we know the result will
maintain even if we know the result will always be imperfect thank you
always be imperfect thank you
always be imperfect thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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