In 1943, American psychologist Abraham Maslow wrote a paper titled “A Theory of Human Motivation,” in which he outlined what is now known as Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.
According to Maslow, there are five basic levels of human need.
First and foremost, Maslow identified “physiological needs,” which forms the first stage of Maslow’s hierarchy. In this foundational level, Maslow describes the most fundamental needs for human survival, such as food, water, sleep, shelter, etc.
The second stage, after one’s most basic necessities are met, is typically referred to as “safety needs.” By this, Maslow is referring to basic security and general safety, mostly on a physical level, but also on a psychological level.
The third stage, which can only be achieved after the first two stages are met, is called “belongingness and love needs,” which typically refers to humans’ need for intimate relationships and friendships.
The fourth stage, “esteem needs,” discusses how humans long for esteem for oneself and from others.
Finally, stage five, which Maslow called “self-actualization” deals with humans’ need to realize their full potential. This can include pursuing personal goals and other major life endeavors. This top stage, however, is only attainable after all other stages have been met.
From a societal standpoint, stages one and two are paramount for a well-functioning civilization.
For those of us living in the United States, stage one is pretty much a given. Although some in the United States struggle to make ends meet, almost everyone who resides in America has access to the basic necessities of life. This is good. It is the reason we enacted a social safety net more than a century ago.
The second stage, however, is getting short shrift in the United States these days. And needless to say, that is not good. In fact, it is very a dangerous development.
In modern societies, safety is the bailiwick of law enforcement, which includes ordinary police officers all the way to district attorneys.
But what if those who are supposed to guarantee safety, through the prosecution of criminals and the upholding of laws, have become derelict in their duty? Even worse, what if those in charge of protecting safety are actually more concerned with protecting lawbreakers? Sadly, that is the case in far too many cities in the United States.
Take Chicago, for example. District Attorney Kim Foxx is notorious for her soft-on-crime policies that have emboldened criminals while endangering law-abiding Chicagoans.
In Chicago (and many other cities), crime is through the roof. Car jackings, shootings, murders, burglaries, smash-and-grab looting sprees, and all sorts of petty crimes are the new normal.
Yet, despite the horrible rise in crime, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Foxx refuse to crack down on crime. In fact, Lightfoot and Foxx would rather blame the police for the spike in crime than hold themselves, or ciriminals, accountable.
The lack of respect for law enforcement, who bravely serve and protect, is an even bigger problem than you might think.
Over the past few years, police officers have been villainized for simply doing their jobs. Even worse, more are dying in the line of duty than ever before.
According tor ecent dataf rom the FBI’s database, “In 2021, 32 police officers were feloniously killed in an ambush or unprovoked attack, compared to 10 such killings in 2020 and seven in 2019. A further review of LEOKA’s annual reports available online reveals the number of ambush/unprovoked killings of law enforcement in 2021 far exceeded all previously recorded figures, dating back to at least 1987—the earliest data available in annual reports published on the FBI’s LEOKA website.”
What’s more, “In 2021, 73 law enforcement officers were feloniously killed, compared to 46 in 2020 and 48 in 2019.”
We live in a time in which political officials are labeling cops the bad guys, while simultaneously calling for the defunding of police departments.
Of course, many of the politicians calling for the defunding of police happen to have personal security details, armed with automatic weapons at the ready.
The far-left narrative that cops are the villains has born fruit for those who hate law enforcement, however, it has done irreparable harm across America.
Fortunately, we may be at the tipping point of the anti-safety crusade. More and more, Americans are calling for more resources for police department. More and more, Americans are calling for tough-on-crime policies. And more and more, Americans are realizing that safety matters.