Dear Sorcha:
I did read your whole post, and in fact, the dynamic is quite different in a small town in the US than in New York, where good cops like your husband, are lining up to join the Fire Dept. and abandoning the cop shop to the bully boys. As to some of the other posts, not yours Sorcha, it is a indication of the political ignorance in this nation that they assume my politics, and put words in my mouth. The fact is this is the only industrialised democracy without a labour party, no party for the majority of the people - and most are too ignorant to even understand that. Little take home test - Doug, Kendal, the other yanks on this board, give us a quick outline about what the Palmer Raids were about, no fair looking it up, test your political historical knowlege of your nation's politcal formation. As to the jails being full becasue of Miranda, that is to funny to answer. I would remind you of the importance basic rights were to a small number of back woods farmers who fought to bring democracy to this nation, and more, what happened to them when - led by Shay they demanded the same of Washington.
All the best
Larry