Gallup recently polled Americans concerning their confidence in various societal actors. The comparison conservatives will find most pleasing is that more than twice as many people have confidence in the police (52%) as have confidence in the media (21-24%).
After all the recent trash talk the media aimed at our defenders in blue or tan, it's nice to see that "we, the people," aren't buying it. I shall now commit a sweeping generalization: many of those angry with, or distrustful of, the police are uneasy about their demographic's less-than-scrupulous conformity with the law.
An interesting apparent anomaly in the data: the criminal justice system got low marks (23%) whereas the police got high marks (52%). If asked, I would have said the police are part of the criminal justice system.
However when asked about them separately, as Gallup did, people believe the police do well. The courts, the probation/parole folks, and the prisons are not viewed as especially successful.
Upon reflection, I find I agree with their assessment. After being caught, too many malefactors are freed on technicalities or, like O.J., win acquittals they appear not to deserve.
