Thank you. I think your analysis makes sense, to the extent we believe the vast majority of men (and women) in law enforcement embrace a system based on patriarchy, punitive justice, and police brutality. I don't believe that's the case. I think most police officers are good people trying to do the best they can to make life-or-death decisions in an increasingly hostile and uncertain landscape. The risk of defunding is that it won't just remove the bad players; it will also eliminate good players (of which I believe there are many more). The end result may be less police brutality (since police will have fewer encounters), but it will also lead to more crime -- which is what we're seeing now.

While the methods and training of most police agencies could be imporived substantially, I believe the true roots of police brutality lie in systemic poverty. As Don Lemon pointed out in the CNN segment, people of all colors are more likely to live in crime-ridden communities if they're poor. And people who live in these communities are more likely to have encounters with law enforcement.

Defunding police is like treating a fever when the body has an infection.