This piece was created in February 2024 in response to my growing concerns with the state of the American political and social justice systems. The previous summer, I read No More Police: A Case for Abolition by Mariame Kaba and Andrea J. Ritchie. The book significantly influenced my understanding of our modern criminal justice system, particularly the prioritization of punishment, profit, and incarceration over community welfare and the value of human life. These ideas also prompted me to reflect more broadly on the many institutions we interact with—such as schools, hospitals, and social services—and how they, too, are shaped by similar systemic structures. This piece reflects the questions and perspectives that emerged during that period and continue to inform my thinking today.