Politicians deliberately choosing to make things more dangerous and difficult.

Across the nation, we have counties and municipalities pursuing at least four different policies which materially and demonstrably increase public danger and decrease quality of life.

Defund the police - Ranges from literally abolishing the police, to replacing the existing police force with another police force, to sharply reducing police funds under the guise of reinventing or reforming policing.

Cite and Release - Individuals committing crimes which do not involve injury are issued citations to appear in court to answer charges but are not detained, arrested or jailed.

Decarceration - A broad movement to reduce prison populations.

Tactical disengagement - Reducing the risk of confrontation between the public and police by limiting the police in the tactics they can undertook to enforce the law and the number of interactions. Policies range from removal of policing for any but violent events to micro-policies such as no traffic stops.

In some locales, only one of the four policies is being pursued, but often with fervor. In others, all four policies are in place but relatively lightly. Atlanta, for example, has adopted cite and release, decarceration, and tactical disengagement, but has only flirted with defunding.

It is, to me, a striking oddity. The public overwhelmingly support safe environments and generally are strongly supportive of a strong police presence. The public is also strongly opposed to violence and theft of property.

So how is it that politicians, strong-armed by small advocacy groups, are working against the desires of the public? Long term, this does not end well for anyone. And perhaps that is the problem - the Detroit decline. The unions and the city making it increasingly difficult to do business. Inconvenient at first and then a problem going on of years. Then, all of a sudden a collapse.