Comment Re:Same as always (Score 1) 754
Indeed, that is exactly the issue at hand.
Without cameras in public places, we rely on other citizens to give evidence of a crime, which will be judged by still other citizens. None of those citizens is given particularly much power, but the weight of evidence still convicts.
With cameras, a totalitarian wannabe doesn't even have to train the Youth to do his bidding. The Tot already has stooges to inform on the population for violating arbitrary rules. His stooges (cameras, duh) give nearly-incontrovertible evidence---it's not just heresay, the jury can see it right there. And he can pick and choose who to target, since *everybody* gets caught on film.
I like the earlier argument that uniform enforcement will help flush out lousy laws, but I don't see that kind of activism in my town. Until I can trust the other citizens to be proactive supporters of liberty---not sheep more worried about what's on TV than what's happening in their town---I don't think it's wise to trust the police not to create a police state!
Without cameras in public places, we rely on other citizens to give evidence of a crime, which will be judged by still other citizens. None of those citizens is given particularly much power, but the weight of evidence still convicts.
With cameras, a totalitarian wannabe doesn't even have to train the Youth to do his bidding. The Tot already has stooges to inform on the population for violating arbitrary rules. His stooges (cameras, duh) give nearly-incontrovertible evidence---it's not just heresay, the jury can see it right there. And he can pick and choose who to target, since *everybody* gets caught on film.
I like the earlier argument that uniform enforcement will help flush out lousy laws, but I don't see that kind of activism in my town. Until I can trust the other citizens to be proactive supporters of liberty---not sheep more worried about what's on TV than what's happening in their town---I don't think it's wise to trust the police not to create a police state!
