Paying off the KCPD

Here's a rule of politics that's basically as old as civilization: Don't argue with people who have weapons.

In that same respect, it was telling that the proposed police budget which features a huge increase passed without a peep.

The Kansas City police board on Tuesday approved a $229 million budget request that asks the city for an extra $33.5 million, a 17.1 percent increase . . . The proposed budget now goes to city officials. The City Council usually considers budget recommendations in January and February, passes a budget in March, and it goes into effect May 1.

However, the Buzz blog says that "Mayoral and council candidates, though, will have to talk about it, since they'll have to live with whatever decision the outgoing council makes." And that's true to a certain extent but I'm thinking that all of the minorities on the receiving end of a Taser or people pulled over in Soviet-era checkpoints (under the guise of DUI) will probably be even more inconvenienced by a better funded police department.

Still, in principle I support the police because they do keep this town safe YET I wonder if all that money will buy them a clue about how to get cooperation from so many people in this town who have yet to start snitching. Will more cash = cooperation or is all of this tax money just gonna be spent on new toys?