Richard Murphy's Reverence for the Police

Richard Murphy, prize clown, on an example of what he calls "the joy of tax" - our police force:

Sometimes stating the obvious is necessary.

Uh-huh. Allow me to state the obvious - Richard Murphy is a total arse. Moving on:

We need police.

We need laws enforced.

Which assumes (a) that all laws are moral, and therefore should be enforced and (b) the police are capable of enforcing the law in all circumstances. Fellow participants in what I would call reality would dispute both of those assumptions.

And just as much we need their presence in communities – where I suspect they do a lot more simple offering help and direction than they do law enforcement.

What? Where the hell does Murphy live? In an episode of Dixon of Dock Green? I've lived in four cities and a rural village in this country, and I have never, ever seen the police do anything relating to "help and direction". Most of the time it is a bastard struggle to get them to do anything relating to law enforcement.

I am well aware that there are those on the right who think the police – and even law – can be privatised.

Not if they've seen Robocop. Yup, I know Robocop isn't real, but we're dealing with Mr Murphy here, people, making reality a movable - if not irrelevant - feast.

That’s wrong. A coherent system of law and order underpins a society. Only government can command and direct such a service.

Yeah, because left-wing governments never behave illegaly. Oh, wait... And the police. They'd never do anything illegal. Oh wait...

Only government can pay for it.

Government doesn't pay for it. The taxpayers do through money appropriated from them with menaces by the government. Whether they like it or not.

That’s the Joy of Tax.

Once again; Richard Murphy, what a total arse.