[ontap]

The result is that my instinct to trust and admire law enforcement has become tempered with a healthy cynicism.

You would do well to apply this logic to any group of people.....There is alway the exception to the rule. In the Marine corps they called it the ten percent rule!!!

[pepsi_junkie]

I do apply it to everyone. Actually I go into every encounter judging a person neutrally (as much as I can) in spite of what others may have said. If I observer undesirable behavior, I shift my assessment accordingly. But I try to keep an open mind and judge others based on what I observe, not what I hear or read.

There are a few groups, however, that I was raise to reflectively assume the best of. The priests (that went out the window...), cops (that's moved from "always right" to "check the facts before you decide") and the military (which is pretty much holding strong at "unless you prove they are bad eggs I give them the benefit of the doubt". When I was a kid, teachers were in that bucket but it's different when you're a parent.

The other exception is democrat politicians. They are always assumed to be bad; liars who want to steal liberty and probably corrupt to boot. Maybe some day one will impress me and show me that there are exceptions. So far it hasn't happened since Zell Miller retired. Joe Manchin doesn't cut it, he strikes me as a phony who will say / do anything to keep his seat. Can't think of anyone else who I'd even consider giving a second look at.