Very interesting dilema. IMO, the KKK deserves thier right to free speach just as much as anyone else. It blows the taxpayers have to pay for it, but thats not really the KKKs problem. If people in genenral could controll thier emotions better, none of this would be a problem. I have seen the KKK out and about before, I don't like listening to them, but i realize yelling/cursing, and even attacking them A) doesnt help my case, and B) is just giving them what they want. If everyone would just ignore them they would go away.

I abhor the Klan, but I have to ask: Did they request the protection?

Apologies if that's been mentioned and I missed it...

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Sayeth John Drake - 10/13/08: "OK, you're right, I admit to LYING"

Well, yes. It seems that the ideal response would be to have a neighborhood picnic at some distant park, so that no one would be home to listen to their noise, and they could chant at empty houses. Which would no doubt frustrate them far more than having someone retaliate to their drivel.

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Agreed about the Klan, but I wonder if the klan's protection is what it's all about. Protecting counter protesters, the local population and property, basically maintaining order is the authority's primary duty, IMO.

So who should pay the $150k?. Socking it to the locals seems unfair. The situation has parallels to a natural disaster (hurricane, flood) in terms of cost to a local area. Perhaps a federal disastar type thing?

Equal Protection under the law.

They are slime, but if we fail to protect them then so are we.

I wonder what it costs DC every time there's one of those anti-war protests?

I don't support the protests, but my federal tax dollars are still paying the capitol police to go out and make sure nobody breaks the law, so I'm incuring some expense at the hands of free speech with which I disagree.

I think anti-war protests are just as retarded as KKK rallies.

On the other hand, I do support the police coming out to close down half the town to make the funeral of a local Marine killed in Iraq a more solemn occasion for the kid's family and loved ones.

Maybe someone else finds my priorities retarded and would rather not have paid the cop's salaries that day.

In the end it all works out as a wash.

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...Old Europe, a once-dominant region now reduced to sucking at the geopolitical teat of America... they spent the better part of the last millennium conquering the world and taking the good stuff home with them... And what do they get for their troubles? Ungrateful colonies demanding their independence. And after you taught them how to play cricket!...

-Jon Stewart

My feeling is that, if the Klan requested the protection, they should foot the bill. If the local police simply felt that it would be prudent to have extra "protection" on the streets, then the city should foot the bill...

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Sayeth John Drake - 10/13/08: "OK, you're right, I admit to LYING"

So is the determining factor in you opinion whether or not the protection is requested?

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You have a keen eye for the obvious...

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Sayeth John Drake - 10/13/08: "OK, you're right, I admit to LYING"

OK, what about someone who has been threatened, say by a jealous ex, and requests protection. Do they pay for it, too?

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"The only abnormality is the incapacity to love"
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No, because an actual threat has been communicated.

If the police just think "it's a good idea" to have extra personnel on hand because the Klan is there, then the Klan shouldn't pay for it. If the Klan requests it because they're concerned for their safety, then they should pay for it. If a threat is communicated to the Klan, and they ask for protection, the city should pay...

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Sayeth John Drake - 10/13/08: "OK, you're right, I admit to LYING"

Ok, so you pay if you requested the protection *unless* a threat was communicated to you. Then the city pays.
So then we have to define 'communication' of a threat; does it need to be in writing? verbal? What about a situation where violence had occured before, but no *specific* threat has been made, like a woman who leaves a guy who's beat her up in the past, but hasn't spoken to him since? Does she need to pay for police protection?

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"The only abnormality is the incapacity to love"
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I don't know about other places but in New Orleans, Mardi Gras krewes pay about $750 to help cover the cost of the police department and the city also charges $1200 and up for police escorts for second-line parades.

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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming "WOO HOO, What a Ride!"

Perhaps you should contact the city and law enforcement ageny involved, and find out what their policies are. Clearly, you're looking for answers that someone not involved in law enforcement or city government can provide...

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Sayeth John Drake - 10/13/08: "OK, you're right, I admit to LYING"

No, I'm not looking for anwers about what is done, I was taking the solution you proposed above, and trying to clarify how it would work.

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