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FBI Didn't Knock Down a Suspect's Door Because 'It Was an Affluent Neighborhood'

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Re: FBI Didn't Knock Down a Suspect's Door Because 'It Was an Affluent Neighborhood'

#121
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They briefly mention it, but quickly move on to "the FBI doesn't knock down rich people's doors". In this case it's more likely these particular rich people (i.e. well-connected people in the US government) than a blanket policy of "don't knock down doors in affluent neighborhoods".

Are there many neighborhoods packed with unconnected rich folks?

Sure, plenty of rich people choose not to cultivate political connections.

After all, maybe I make $300k a year and think our mayor is, by the standards of politicians, one of the good ones; and getting invited to fundraising dinners and charity galas and rubbing shoulders with influential people makes me feel important and successful. So maybe I'll donate a few thousand dollars every election cycle.

On the other hand, maybe you make $300k a year but think political donations are a grubby embarrassment; that fundraising events are full of fools, the stuck-up and the self-important; and that the two parties produce policies that are barely worthy of your vote, let alone your money. So you don't donate anything.

Re: FBI Didn't Knock Down a Suspect's Door Because 'It Was an Affluent Neighborhood'

#122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A mere change in market equilibrium doesn’t constitute a market distortion.

I'd argue that any significant wealth inequality constitutes a market distortion. It undermines the "wisdom of the crowd" that underpins capitalism.

But it has nothing to do with inheritance as wealth inequality would exist even before inheritance.

Re: FBI Didn't Knock Down a Suspect's Door Because 'It Was an Affluent Neighborhood'

#123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd argue that any significant wealth inequality constitutes a market distortion. It undermines the "wisdom of the crowd" that underpins capitalism.

But it has nothing to do with inheritance as wealth inequality would exist even before inheritance.

It does have something to do with inheritance. Inheritance directly causes wealth inequality because some people inherit money while others don't (and the amounts inherited vary widely). It's not the only mechanisms which causes wealth inequality, but it is one of them.

Re: FBI Didn't Knock Down a Suspect's Door Because 'It Was an Affluent Neighborhood'

#124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They should be at risk of losing their jobs for poor behaviour like this (and if they senior figures within the police forces don't deal with it, then they should be at risk of losing their jobs).

They should risk well more than their jobs for their criminal behavior. I'm so sick of qualified immunity I could convict a cop for chewing gum.

I agree in general, although I'm not sure criminal prosecution would be worthwhile/appropriate for breaking a door down. For more serious crimes absolutely.

Re: FBI Didn't Knock Down a Suspect's Door Because 'It Was an Affluent Neighborhood'

#125
post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He's pointing out that people in the neighbourhood are politically influent, that's why they are treated that way, not because they are rich. Which I did not get even after reading it. I'm thankful he pointed it out

Money is power. That is a truism everybody is aware off. But Liberalism is fundamentally incoherent if that were true. So people have been deluded into forgetting this simple basic fact.

That's jsut not true. A county sheriff has far more power than a software developer, despite being far less wealthy

Re: FBI Didn't Knock Down a Suspect's Door Because 'It Was an Affluent Neighborhood'

#126
post #95
post #63

> "I can tell you that is not protocol. The problem is there are two justice systems: 1 for poor people and minorities and 1 for rich people and generally white people. You see it when you are one of the few black agents. Everyone is not equal." Was " Tarek Abou-Khatwa " not a minority? [The surname " Abou " appears to be most commonly associated with either Niger or Egypt]( https://forebears.io/surnames/abou ), whil…

Wait, no ... Abou in arabic means "father of ...", so it's in a possessive construct. It needs the other word to make sense. The "ou" is just an approximation, other spellings include Abo, Abu, Aboo, Bou, Ba ... Whole of North Africa is filled to the brim with Abou-xyz family names, even first names (Abu Madyan "Boumedienne" in Algeria for example) and also many many such names in the other parts of the arab world.

Yes, Abu X is a kunya[0]. It could mean that your child’s name is X, or X could be something more abstract and figurative like a nickname.

The “ou” spelling of و is French style and would usually indicate a French speaking country or an former French colony.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunya_(Arabic)

Re: FBI Didn't Knock Down a Suspect's Door Because 'It Was an Affluent Neighborhood'

#127

? The FBI have information about the people they are nabbing and already have a risk profile. If the people the are grabbing have zero history of violence, no gun ownership, no gang association, there's no reason to smash down the door. Even judging by neighbourhood: It's probably unfair but my bet is diplomats don't generally get into shootouts with the cops. They could probably safely do the same in middle class ne…

I'm going to take a guess that lots of the subjects of no knock raids have no history of violence or gang association.

Gun ownership, stupidly, is legal in the US, so it seems like poor grounds for a police action

Re: FBI Didn't Knock Down a Suspect's Door Because 'It Was an Affluent Neighborhood'

#128

What's actually disturbing is that more than 90% of the time this would be a "no knock" raid with paramiliterized police smashinng down the door, tossing in flash-bang grenades - the works. No knock should be reserved for extreme situations, not the norm.

I'm not from the USA, does the FBI usually throw in grenades when arresting people for insurance fraud? If not, then perhaps other lower-quality social-media websites such as Reddit/Twitter might be more receptive to your comments?

Maybe not "usually" but regularly enough that it's worth mentioning.

Re: FBI Didn't Knock Down a Suspect's Door Because 'It Was an Affluent Neighborhood'

#129
post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So why not use the same tactics for both, rich and poor? Or is violence reserved for poorer people?

Usually some rich old guy won't shoot at cops, when they come knocking at the door. Those people use lawyers, not guns.

They wont be shooting, they are probably busy shredding all the financial documents.

Re: FBI Didn't Knock Down a Suspect's Door Because 'It Was an Affluent Neighborhood'

#130
post #4

Just as light bends under the influence of gravity....Looks like rule of law also bends under the influence of capitalism...

In the Soviet Union the high level apparatchiks lived in better housing, away from the common people. There will always be elite people. At least in capitalism you become rich by providing value to other people. In socialism you become elite by stealing from your comrades and forcefully eliminating the competition.

> At least in capitalism you become rich by providing value to other people.

Or you inherit your wealth and politicians. Or you break the rules to get to the top and then pay a small fine if you get caught.

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