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dominus_aranearum t1_iwtr2qr wrote

Reply to comment by Fiss in 'Horrific turnover' of Tennessee DCS caseworkers leads to request for budget increase by Due-Reading6335

It's amazing that cops are rarely held accountable for intentional actions that harm another person under the guise of qualified immunity. Same for prosecutors, etc. People who have the tools and resources at their disposal, but are just bullies.

But a social worker, actually trying to help those most in need, not given the necessary resources to accomplish those tasks, can be held accountable as a result of being seriously overworked? Why am I not surprised?

Our system and country are beyond help at this point.

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AngelSucked t1_iwu149x wrote

You know, that is an excellent comparison, an excellent way to put it. Thank you.

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fun-guy-from-yuggoth t1_iwumhak wrote

Cops don't have a legal duty to protect (seriously. Fucked but true. Actual case law on this) but social workers, care givers, doctors, and nurses do. A cop can legally stand and do nothing.

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RubberPny t1_iwva8cz wrote

Former mechanic here, us too, I can be held liable and even sued if I let a car drive on the road with an obvious defect/safety issue and they hit someone because of it. (In my state at least).

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dominus_aranearum t1_iwvbsch wrote

I'm aware of the reasons and that cops only have a duty to protect the government, not individuals themselves. These rulings are made by those in power who want to maintain the divide between social and economic classes.

The standards necessary for being in law enforcement are too low and the lack of accountability furthers authoritative abuse. Being a cop should absolutely require more education and training, being licensed, being insured and accountability. When a 'civilian' is expected to know the law better than the cops who are paid to uphold those laws, it furthers the power imbalance. When a cop can arrest you and turn your life upside down because they are having a bad day or simply want to bully you, even when illegally detained, you have almost no recourse. I'm glad that there is a little accountability happening now, but it's the tip of the iceberg for a massively corrupt institution and needs serious reform.

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LactoceTheIntolerant t1_iwuu3n3 wrote

Cops have a union.

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dominus_aranearum t1_iwv9u6o wrote

I'm aware and that's irrelevant here. Cop unions have too much power and aren't there to gain better working conditions, but rather to strong arm the communities the cops are supposed to serve into toeing the line.

My point is that the people making these decisions are selfish, egotistical and power hungry. They care for nothing beyond their own group and will stomp all over you to get it.

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LactoceTheIntolerant t1_iwvvixh wrote

I completely agree with you on this. If more state/county communities like this formed a union a lot of these arguments could be solved at the bargaining table.

Edit: Typo

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