Conservative Hypocrisy: Why Trump’s Base Should Support Police Accountability

Limiting the power of the police may seem like a radical idea, but why doesn't Trump's base support it? Aren't they the ones who believe that everyone's security, especially from the government, is the individual's responsibility?

Community and Police Protection

With the exception of a few exceptions, the police in America are doing a good job and are not oppressing people. They exist to ensure that individuals are free to go out without fear of harm, and not carrying a weapon is a right they protect.

Conservatives argue that the bad cops should be removed from the force, while criminals of the left want all the cops gone. This polarity among groups serves to highlight the need for a balanced approach to law enforcement.

Hypocrisy: The Practice of Pretense

Hypocrisy is defined as the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform. This is a prime example of conservative hypocrisy. Moreover, it delves into the "small government" hypocrisy, where conservative state governors supersede local control and local government for partisan reasons while simultaneously complaining incessantly about federal pre-emption of state laws.

TX Governor Greg Abbott: A Case Study in Hypocrisy

Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, exemplifies this kind of hypocrisy. Since when did the state claim the right to control local municipal budgets? This is a gross abuse of power, especially in a home rule state where conservatives are often supportive. But if a Democrat governor were proposing the same idea, it would be met with a flood of complaints about "small government" and "local control."

This examples also highlight his reluctance to allow cities to enact their own COVID-19 protections unless approved by him, resulting in a massive spike of cases in the latter half of 2020. Local cities could have partially protected themselves without his interference, defying the initial claims of enabling local control.

Conservative Hypocrisy with Police Unions

Conservatives dislike labor unions on the grounds that they can add to overhead, make it difficult to terminate bad employees, and have an unreasonable amount of political power. Yet, they turn a blind eye to police unions, who, like other unions, create the same problems.

Conservatives want to limit police power only when it aligns with their worldview and not based on the critical idea of protecting public health, safety, and welfare. If they were genuinely concerned about this, they would not object to local governments defunding their PDs if the community supports it. Additionally, they should not give police unions a free pass, despite recognizing the issues within other unions.

A Call for Balanced Reform

Both liberals and conservatives have their share of hypocrisies; however, this question specifically highlights conservative hypocrisy regarding police accountability. Conservative support for restricting police power should be based on the need to prevent abuse of power, ensure public safety, and uphold the principles of a healthy, functioning democracy.

The supporters of President Trump should reflect on their support for local autonomy and free-market principles. If they truly believe in these values, they must support laws that protect the public from corrupt or abusive police forces. It’s time to end the hypocrisy and align their beliefs with their actions to create a safer, more just society.