(08-15-2018, 05:34 PM)DarloJAG84 Wrote:

(08-15-2018, 02:23 PM)americus 2.0 Wrote: Has anyone watched Flint Town on Netflix? It's an interesting look into a city that has been decimated by crime, the water issue, poverty, etc. At one time there were about 300+ police officers who patrolled the city of about 100k people and at the time this was filmed they were down to 100 officers thanks to crooked politicians and mismanagement of funds. 100 officers to cover 100K people in one of the most crime ridden cities in the country.

They follow the Flint PD as they go on patrol, during roll call at the start of shifts, meetings the Chief of Police has with various folks. They also go a little into the private lives of the cops and what their thoughts are on whatever issue is being focused on.They talk to members of the community, show when Sanders and Clinton and Trump rolled into town before the POTUS election. I was surprised at how many folks in the community seriously hated Clinton among the black populace. Many of them were for Sanders even though they didn't think he was the best option either. Most of the white folks were for Trump. The cops didn't have an opinion, at least not in the first 6 episodes which is where I left off.

The saddest thing I've heard so far is a mother saying she tells her son to stay out of trouble because he doesn't know if he'll have a good cop or a bad cop that shows up. WHAT? I had to hit the pause button to digest that one. You don't tell him not to get into trouble because it's the right thing to do but he needs to worry about the kind of cop that will show up?! This is parenting?

It's an interesting look at a part of our country that in years past was THE place to move to and prosper thanks to the motor companies- until they left town.

I'm about 4 episodes in.. it's really well filmed and very honest. I was surprised that the Police staff got away with saying as much as they did, but all in all, a good thought provoking look at policing in a town so hard up on resources.

The lead-poisoning in the water certainly didn't help, either.

I appreciate the honesty on both sides. I may not understand some of the thought processes but that's one reason why I watch shows like this so I can be challenged in how I think about and see things and gain new perspective. I believe when we stop listening we become way too stuck in our "box" and we become more divisive as people and as a society.

Last Chance U on Netflix is another one that challenges me. It also aggravates me how these kids have been raised in environments where football is the end all be all. If you don't make it to the NFL your life is ruined. There seems to be absolutely no backup plan, at all. If they get dropped from the football program at one school they can just apply to and go somewhere else. Education is not the focus.

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