On 29/03/2021 08:51, TimS wrote:
> On 29 Mar 2021 at 05:04:09 BST, 6+Cola  wrote:
>>    As for "banditry" ... are you referring to "speed trap towns"
>>    or something ? For the most part, transit in the USA is
>>    dead practical - has to be because of the vast distances.
>>    I think there are single counties in Texas and Wyoming
>>    and certainly Alaska that could swallow up Scotland.
>
> I lived in the US for 12 years, and amassed two speeding tickets in that
time.
> So I went to traffic school for a Saturday. Towards the end of one of these
> days, the person running the course (an off-duty San Francisco cop) asked if
> anyone had any questions. A little old lady said, is it true that there are
> quotas? The guy was quiet for a moment and then said, yes, but no one would
> ever admit it publicly. I didn't understand this, but eventually found out
> that what was meant was:
>
> 1) Mayor decides the city needs more money
> 2) He talks to his mate the Chief of Police (elected on the same political
> ticket)
> 3) The Chief tells the traffic cops that for the next shift or two they all
> need to book, say, three sitters and three movers (people parking wrong or
> committing a 'moving offence' - speeding or being in the wrong lane, etc)
>
> So these would be minor infringements that would normally be overlooked
> because the cop would pragmatically decide that there was no danger to life,
> limb, property, etc. But now these people get a fine instead.
>
> IOW, legalised banditry.
>
All government is best understood if it its regarded simply as a self
legalising protection racket.

Democracy is how you overthrow it without bloodshed, and install a new
one that costs a bit less and protects a bit better.


--
Climate is what you expect but weather is what you get.
Mark Twain

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05