The Zimmerman Trial

[PLATO]

If you think that pursuing someone you believe to be dangerous on foot in order to help the police who are already on their way is reasonable, then I'd say you're not qualified for a neighborhood watch position either. And I'm quite certain that the police would agree with me.

Total disregard of what actually happened. Fantasyland response.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Really? The part where he didn't think Trayvon was dangerous, or the part where he didn't pursue him? If he didn't think he was dangerous, why was he reporting him to the police? If he wasn't pursuing him, why was he out of the car?

[Felch]

Really? It's not about checks and balances? About the people in charge of protecting and serving the community being ultimately beholden to that same community in clearly outlined ways?

Checks and balances have nothing to do with being a pants shitting coward. Nothing in the Constitution says anything about reserving all power and authority for the government. It literally says:

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

In other words, we have every right to operate neighborhood watches. In fact, Americans can start their own private armies without much in the way of regulation. How do you think Blackwater Xe Services Academi still operates in spite of all its trouble?

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Nothing in the Constitution says anything about reserving all power and authority for the government.

Of course not. But the power and authority that it does create is beholden to the people, which is the principle I was talking about.

In other words, we have every right to operate neighborhood watches. In fact, Americans can start their own private armies without much in the way of regulation. How do you think Blackwater Xe Services Academi still operates in spite of all its trouble?

I was not challenging the constitutionality of neighborhood watches. I was saying that they are an unofficial body assuming pseudo-governmental roles and doing so without paying attention to the principles that are behind the actual governmental body.

[Felch]

And you're completely wrong.

[The Mad Monk]

Every time I've ever heard of a neighborhood watch interacting with law enforcement, that is the first thing that the watch is told.

How many times is that?

[Koyaanisqatsi]

In what way?

x-post

[MrFun]

Comparing neighborhood watch groups to atrocity-committing mercenary groups like Blackwater is retarded.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

How many times is that?

Personally? Maybe a dozen or so. I was told that it's SOP.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Comparing neighborhood watch groups to atrocity-committing mercenary groups like Blackwater is retarded.

Less in principle than in degree, at least for the part he's talking about. I don't have a problem with the comparison for these purposes.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Well his idiocy has already claimed one innocent life...

Yes, Zimmerman's life has been completely ruined.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

If you think that pursuing someone you believe to be dangerous on foot in order to help the police who are already on their way is reasonable, then I'd say you're not qualified for a neighborhood watch position either. And I'm quite certain that the police would agree with me.

Fortunately neither you nor they get to make that decision.

[self biased]

Of course not. But the power and authority that it does create is beholden to the people, which is the principle I was talking about.



I was not challenging the constitutionality of neighborhood watches. I was saying that they are an unofficial body assuming pseudo-governmental roles and doing so without paying attention to the principles that are behind the actual governmental body.

ah, so we're scaling to the peak of obtuse mountain then. Good to know.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

When on Poly...

And, in fairness, I did warn you a while ago.

[rah]

I guess no mall cops are qualified then also.