If you have read my posts very much, you may have noticed a certain disdain for government. Here is a very specific example of why I have such disdain. Some of you may also read 
On Wednesday, we went though our security camera footage to identify a suspect. We can see who rode bikes to the library. Our suspect was dropped off by someone in a vehicle, loitered suspiciously for a while, took one bike, returned it a few minutes later, and then took another bike and left for the day. We contacted the police and the bike owner's parents so they could also call the police about our evidence for their police report. We in the library know the kid's name and address because we have our library card info. This is an open-and-shut case being handed to the police on a silver platter.
The problem? The coproaches won't even come see our footage. The only officer who apparently has the specialized training necessary to deal with teenage bicycle thieves is out until Monday. No one else at the department can handle such intricate and dangerous matters, apparently.
Why does it take the cops nearly a week to even begin investigating theft?
All sarcasm aside, it shouldn't be a surprise that the police can't do the job they claim to do, namely investigate crimes and protect the public. They are a monopoly in the most literal sense of the word possible. They have no incentive to earn or retain public support, because they have no competition, and public support is created through propaganda in education and the media. They don't need to do a good job at the little things. The truly sad part, though, is that I am certain they would be immediately on top of any reports of meth labs or marijuana grows in the area. If they can do something big and flashy, even when there is no malum in se crime, they'd be on it like stink on shit. Again, public choice economic theory is borne out in real-world examinations as the incentives don't reward real service to the public.
