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Culture War Roundup for the week of January 19, 2026

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Even if you believe cops should only enforce the law, not protect people, they shouldn't actively put others' lives at stake (like these cops did blocking parents). At minimum, that will make people resent cops and the law itself, which will make it harder to enforce.

Moreover, enforcing the law is not just arresting people, but preventing the law (e.g. murder) from being broken.

Even if you believe cops should only enforce the law

Emphasis added. There is a difference between talking about what Ought to be and what Is. I was mostly talking about what Is. I agree that there Ought to be a police like force that is responsible for protecting us, and if the police are not gonna do it they Ought not get in the way of others doing it.

This ruling did not surprise me, I was only slightly surprised that the officer was charged in the first place. It seems to have surprised others, so I was sharing my mental map of the situation. It is possible to be unsurprised and disappointed in the way the world works, that is how I feel here.