RashyNullPlanet

Now I know about two John Romeros: the software guy, and the whiny cop, so aptly paraphrased by Billy Beck.

Their similarity ends with their name.

Software Romero makes a living by engaging people on a voluntary basis. Cop Romero makes a living primarily by using force to deal with people. Software Romero creates games and sells them to willing buyers. Cop Romero imposes some peoples’ preferences on unwilling victims. Software Romero earns an income from voluntary customers. Cop Romero’s income is money confiscated from his neighbors.

Cop Romero could learn some valuable lessons from Software Romero.

Look at these two pictures and ask yourself what could have caused this woman’s injuries. What is not visible is that she has two broken teeth:

What was your first impression? Domestic violence? Pimp v. prostitute?

Now look at this picture:

See that foot-shaped stain on the floor on the far side of the woman? That’s part of a pool of blood. How much blood do you suppose that is? A pint? Maybe two? Angela Garbarino acquired those injuries while in the custody of police, specifically, while in the custody of the savage Wiley Willis. Look at that last picture. Why is the savage Wiley Willis touching Angela’s inner thigh?

Radley Balko linked to Angela Garbarino’s story earlier today. Make sure to watch the videos.

The ABC article linked by Radley claims “no one knows for sure what occurred.” That cannot be true. There are at least two people who know exactly what happened: Angela and Wiley. One of them is telling the truth. Wiley claims Angela suffered injury because she “fell”. Angela’s injuries speak for themselves.

It’s obvious to even a chimp missing a chromosome that Wiley beat the fuck out of Angela while the camera was off.

Black’s Law Dictionary says (for anyone relying on appeals to authority):

Accessory. Criminal law: Contributing to or aiding in the commission of a crime. One who, without being present at the commission of a felonious offense, becomes guilty of such offense, not as a chief actor, but as a participator, as by command, advice, instigation, or concealment; either before or after the act or commission”

One who is not the chief actor in the offense, nor present at its performance, but in some way concerned therein, either before or after the act committed. One who aids, abets. commands, or counsels another in the commission of a crime.

Accessory after the fact. A person who, knowing a felony to have been committed by another, receives, relieves, comforts or assists the felon, in order to enable him to escape from punishment or the like.

Accessory during the fact. One who stands by without interfering or giving such help as may be in his power to prevent the commission of a criminal offense.

There is no way around it: anyone who has first-hand knowledge of what Wiley did to Angela is an accessory, unless he testifies against Wiley.

That is precisely why there are almost no good cops. Almost every cop knows about some savagery another cop committed. By remaining silent, that “good” cop becomes an accessory to the savagery. A cop’s only hope for redemption is to call out the perpetrator.

Co-workers of Wiley: this means you.

Wendy’s friend Ted is right: that’s a difficult video to watch, especially if you understand that it could be an important woman in your life who’s next. The second part of the local news story is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRhyiXJ91CQ&NR=1

Hope Steffey can be heard repeatedly screaming, “Why are you doing this?”

The answer, which she’ll never get from her uniformed attackers: because they can.

…hear me roar.

Everything important about this has already been said.

Update: I was wrong. Billy makes another important point.

Greg’s post at NoodleFood reminded me of a quote from Bruce McQuain, resurrected from Usenet by Billy Beck not too long ago:

http://tinyurl.com/2puelv

My submission to the NYT contest: The American Revolution: Rest In Peace
(Beware the lag on this link. It took an awful long time to load for me.)

Richard Nikoley writes about the Cannibal Pot.

Those folks are laughing, just as Richard notes, because they think “they’re going to get to feast”.

I think, though, that the only reason they’re able to laugh at all is the fact that they’re so insulated from the brutality.

None of those people would dare to do on their own what they’ve delegated via a vote. None would have the gonads to approach someone else’s employer and demand a portion of everyone’s paycheck. None would dare smash their way into their neighbor’s house and forcibly prevent their neighbor from using some recreational drug. None would forcibly prevent people from gambling.

But many are willing to delegate those actions to someone else via a vote.

Voting insulates them from the brutality of the cannibal pot. They don’t have to get their hands dirty when they vote. Voting lets them leave the dirty work to someone else.

There’s no way around it: voting is delegated coercion. Delegated theft. Delegated brutality.