“The Right Honorable Sir Robert Peel was a big thing in British politics of the mid-19th century, which would logically make him completely irrelevant to anything in 21st century America. And he would be, except for one thing he did in 1829 while holding the post of Home Secretary. He formed the Metropolitan Police Force in London, employing 1000 constables who, in his honor, came to be known as ‘Bobbies.’ It was the first modern police force in history; the prototype of all its successors. For those who know my opinion of police officers and police departments in general, indeed of the whole idea of police, it is true that in my opinion he did the world no great favor thereby. But sometimes you have to give points for good intentions. And it is clear that it was never Robert Peel’s intention to unleash yet another oppressive force on the world. He made this clear when, in organizing his police force, he published his nine ‘Peelian Principles’ …” (11/06/09)