You don't have to spend your time blocking traffic and chanting slogans in the street to impact public policy. A phone call, an email, or a letter is better.

Most elected officials don't want to defund and ultimately abolish local police departments. But some of them do and they are riding a wave right now. However, most politicians would rather go along with a bad idea than lose their own job.

Successful politics is more often than not about surviving than it is about leadership. Getting caught on the wrong side of an issue that is trending can overwhelm and destroy a politician. Look at how many politicians have "evolved" over the years on issues like civil rights, abortion, war, and gun control to save themselves at the ballot box.

This isn't a moral commentary, this is the reality of politics.

Do you want to see your local police department defunded to the point of uselessness? Do you want to live in a community that is at the mercy of criminals who know you are helpless? Do you believe we can have a private property-based economy without someone to defend property and lives at a moment's notice?

Of course you don't want to live in that kind of world.

So pick up the phone and call your local, state, and federal elected officials and calmly tell them you support the police and you hope they do, too. Tell them you will be voting for or against them based on their support for your local police. Ask for a written response on the matter. It will only take a few minutes of your time.

You can stand up to the wild hordes roaming the streets with a well-targeted phone call and then go on about your life. Don't concede your power as an American citizen and don't be intimidated.

Chris McCarthy is the host of The Chris McCarthy Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Contact him at chris.mccarthy@townsquaremedia.com and follow him on Twitter @Chris_topher_Mc. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

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