A Corrupt Society

A slurry of news has been circulating surrounding a recent police shooting of an African-American man.  Upon both observing and contemplating my immediate surroundings that reinforce a lawless society, it is far easier to understand recent police brutality.  When an officer draws his gun and points it at a criminal offender, it seems purposely he adopts the responsibility of judge and jury.  Because much of America's judicial system is on the take, criminals often dissipate through the mesh.  Because our country no longer possesses the financial means nor will to educate or adjudicate our citizens, a police officer is placed in a precarious position.  While at times a criminal will feign contrition about his crimes, it often is cited in the field of criminal justice only a small percentage of criminals are capable of rehabilitation.  Because our prisons are over populated, because America does not possess the financial means, and because there is no will actually to spend time dealing with the criminal faction the police officer has become the sole judge of a criminals fate.  While all of the questions being raised are relevant, such as why an unarmed man was shot multiple times, the wisdom of understanding someone else's point of view is quintessential.  Firstly shooting a  pistol requires physical skill.  One's rushing adrenaline has the power to usurp tried and true training.  In short a police officer doesn't necessarily possess this skill.  His aim could be bad.  Shooting multiple times assures the assailant will be hit.  Secondly a police officer knows that chances of a perpetrator being convicted of their crimes.  In some cases it is rare.  In the few seconds it takes to draw a pistol it is probable a police officer actually is thinking about this.  "What are the chances this criminal will be tried and convicted and taken off of the streets?"  In the much acclaimed film, "LA Confidential," police officer Bud White exhibits this behavior.  He knows full and well the history of the criminal, and therefore takes it upon himself to serve justice.  "That's what the man got, justice."  We as a voyeuristic society often cast judgement without understanding fully the encompassing history.  It looks brutal and immoral to see a criminal lay down his weapon on the ground and then immediately be shot three times.  The officer it seems was not practicing empathy.  An example of such a behavior can be seen in the film "Colors" starring Robert Duvall.  With rookie partner Sean Penn, Duvall police's the neighborhood of East Los Angeles practicing and exhibiting empathy towards his fellow citizens.  He loves them, and consequently while he performs his police duty he engages his personal code of ethical and moral behavior.  More experienced police officers with familial backgrounds could be more prone to this use of conscious.  Without it they would be reliant upon ONLY the education and training they receive from our society.  Because the powers at be fervently have been trying to eradicate religion from our country, this makes American citizens more susceptible to immoral behavior.  Where do they learn it?  How is a police officer supposed to know when to, "Be cool Ringo," and when to lay down the law?  America embraces Capitalism as her socioeconomic system.  Capitalism foremost teaches a philosophy of getting for yourself.  There is nothing in its dogma remotely that suggests caring for your fellow citizen.  This must be learned either from family or religion.  Farther and farther has mainstream America strayed from an ethical and moral society.  It is reinforced daily the majority of our society's construct is, "On the take."  Our judicial system, our elected leaders, and our medical providers through the corporate monopoly of health insurance are enveloped in a cloaking  milieu of selfish corruption.  Getting for one's self.  That is what Capitalism teaches.  Not only that giant loopholes exist for businesses allowing them pollute the environment, extort our money, and control our lives.  It is the nature of America.  It is the Condition of America.  I am not sure a change is possible.  As I observe the expansive sprawl of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, all I can ask myself is what is this military doing?  What do they do for me?  Do they really ensure my freedom by fighting civil wars for other countries?  Is that really the responsibility of the American military force?  I have not witnessed our military directly protecting my civil rights ever.  Instead we watch them engaged to protect fearing elected officials from probable social unrest.  I only can think this body of armed men and women are being preened to protect our corrupt government.  There has been one exception, and that is the transporting and distributing of food to the refugees in Iraq.  The funding of this military has bankrupted America, and still today we have no money for the domestic needs of our infrastructure.  Trillions have dollars have been pissed away fighting civil wars in the Middle East.  What about America?  What about our country.  What about us?