Taking Action to Kokua Kauai
"Civil Unrest," Riot Gear and Social Justice
"Civil unrest" - the purported justification for the acquisition of riot gear - is caused by social injustice.
Where there is more equitable distribution of wealth and power in a community, more people feel inclined to adhere to "social norms." As people begin to feel that an elite is increasingly taking more than their share and making it more difficult for average people to make a comfortable living, exercise self-determination and have their voices heard and respected in the public sphere, unrest grows.
Sometimes this unrest is completely unorganized and politically ineffective - such as when people engage in random hooliganism and misplaced rebellion stemming from a loss of hope for the future. Other times, unrest is quite organized and takes the form of effective social movement. In either case, it is in the interest of the dominant elements in society to "restore" social equilibrium.
The question is: how is that done? If it is done by increased police aggression, that means that the political and economic elite are reinforcing the growing inequalities. If it is done by addressing the root causes of unrest, that means that we are willing to shift power and resources in a more equitable way.
That seems to be the question here now. Chief Perry and others can use the excuse that a shifting demographic involving more ex-urban folk is driving this decision, but look who has just received the brunt of these new tactics. A sovereignty leader! So in my view, the "new urban population" excuse doesn't cut it.
But maybe he was referring to the influx of developers, corporatists and real estate agents pushing their continental agenda of profit no matter what, timeshares, resorts, GMOs, land-grabs and all the rest of it onto a resistant population. Maybe the riot gear is for THEM. We can only hope the police are planning to protect Kaua'i from more of their assaults!
Where there is more equitable distribution of wealth and power in a community, more people feel inclined to adhere to "social norms." As people begin to feel that an elite is increasingly taking more than their share and making it more difficult for average people to make a comfortable living, exercise self-determination and have their voices heard and respected in the public sphere, unrest grows.
Sometimes this unrest is completely unorganized and politically ineffective - such as when people engage in random hooliganism and misplaced rebellion stemming from a loss of hope for the future. Other times, unrest is quite organized and takes the form of effective social movement. In either case, it is in the interest of the dominant elements in society to "restore" social equilibrium.
The question is: how is that done? If it is done by increased police aggression, that means that the political and economic elite are reinforcing the growing inequalities. If it is done by addressing the root causes of unrest, that means that we are willing to shift power and resources in a more equitable way.
That seems to be the question here now. Chief Perry and others can use the excuse that a shifting demographic involving more ex-urban folk is driving this decision, but look who has just received the brunt of these new tactics. A sovereignty leader! So in my view, the "new urban population" excuse doesn't cut it.
But maybe he was referring to the influx of developers, corporatists and real estate agents pushing their continental agenda of profit no matter what, timeshares, resorts, GMOs, land-grabs and all the rest of it onto a resistant population. Maybe the riot gear is for THEM. We can only hope the police are planning to protect Kaua'i from more of their assaults!
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