NYPD Officers Swarm and Tase Black Man on Subway

[Prometheus]

After Accusing Him of Letting Someone on Without Paying Fare

Just a link because there's video:

www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/nypd-officers-swarm-tase-black-220313590.html

I'm of two minds on this:

Yes. He was belligerent, but who wouldn't be if they thought they were being wrongly accused?

Could he have simply stepped off the train and made his case in a calm and polite manner?

Sure.

But another part of me is wondering why so much manpower and effort was expended for the alleged loss of $2.75. It seems to me that the salaries of the group of police officers involved far outweighs that tiny number.

"But he's not the only guy not paying the fare!" you cry?

Agreed, but why was this guy singled out?

With all those police officers responding, how many other people "jumped the turn-style" so-to-speak, while no one was watching? If I were looking to save $2.75, that would have been the perfect moment.

So, now there's the wasted salaries and who knows how many more missed fares, all for the sake of less than $3.

"But people need to follow the rules!"

Yes they do, and we need to have a police force ready to enforce them otherwise the loss of revenue to the transit system could become immeasurable and catastrophic should the transit system have to shut down portions of their operations due to lack of funding, but isn't there a better way than expending even more money?

Some people say that the government should be run like a business. How would a business solve this problem? They'd hike the fares most likely since they'd need to cover their losses. In terms of government, that would mean more taxes.

This shows the obvious divide between the two major political parties in the US:

One group, the Dems, want to increase taxes, nominally in order to make all people's lives better. It could be argued that some policies would not achieve this goal, but at least it's a positive goal.

The other group, the GOP, doesn't want to raise taxes unless they will be used to extend their power and ability to punish people... particularly those of color.

There must be a middle ground.