However, it has been my observation that police officers are more hostile to the public, even law-abiding people, than was the case 20-30 years ago. Many LEOs have an attitude that the entire civilian population, not just in the slums but in middle class areas, are potential criminals and thus two legged scum. Police officers are drawn from the overall population and as a result, the moral decline in that population will be evident in the police force. With lower crime rates and increased public hostility, law enforcement budgets on all levels of government may no longer be the sacred cow they have been since the huge crime wave of the 1960s.
Arrogant and high handed LEOs, unfair laws, and increased government intrusiveness may lead to an anti-police backlash that will weaken law enforcement effectiveness.
Granted, a lot of the hostility is based on unpopular laws the police must enforce, such as speed traps and seat belt laws, and the increased power law enforcement agencies have been granted by the legislatures, the courts, and Congress, such as warrantless searches and confiscation of property without due process. People should focus on those who pass the laws: legislators and judges.
The federal government creates about 3,000 new laws and regulations each year. State governments each create about a quarter that many. Politicians and bureaucrats, aided by a facilitating media and special interest groups, assert that every new law and regulation is necessary to save people and society from certain doom. Almost every person breaks the law several times each year.
Who has real power?
Despite 3,000 new laws and regulations added each year people increasingly prosper despite rampant lawlessness.
How is it that persons and society haven't self-destructed with such huge lawlessness? Actually, it's direct evidence/proof that typical Americans' (productive workers, entrepreneurs and citizens in general) self-interest is more powerful than politicians and bureaucrats (parasitical elites) self-interest. Value creators' methods are effective and cause them and society to prosper despite breaking the law. Parasitical elites usurp prosperity despite their laws being ineffective. The vast majority of new laws are not valid laws, unnecessary and a drain on the value creators the economy and society. Proclamations written by self-proclaimed authorities under the color of law used to control the citizens as various collective.
In reality it's the individual value producer, the highest authority, acting in his and her own self-interest that is benefiting/saving persons and society from the possibility of doom.
Arrogant and high handed LEOs, unfair laws, and increased government intrusiveness may lead to an anti-police backlash that will weaken law enforcement effectiveness.
LEOs grant their colleagues special privileges they don't give to citizens. Many LEOs do illegal drugs and/or drive while intoxicated. Many LEOs know which LEOS are breaking the law and give them a free pass. Of all people, LEOs should not be breaking the law. Even more so, they should most certainly be held accountable for breaking the law. For, to do otherwise results in citizens' erosion of respect for the law.
Finally, to the parasitical elites, if it was physically possible to apprehend and process every person that has violated the law in the last thirty days, other than just traffic laws -- including LEOs, judges, prosecutors, lawyers, grocery clerks, doctors, engineers and etc. -- to do that within a week (7 days), society and the economy would come to a screeching halt that would send a negative ripple effect around the world. That would be certain doom.