I get frustrated with the "if we let the cops do this" arguments. Here's the crux of it. Problem intersections are KILLING people with no chance of legal action to remedy it. The REASON we don't let the city government mount cameras everywhere is that there is no CAUSE for it happening. Example: There isn't a homicide problem of any consequence in my neighborhood. So,I'd fight just putting up cameras for general surveillance because there is no crucial problem. Now, I might very WELL put up my own camera to snap pictures of teens walking down the alley at 2am because we do have garage breakins. But I seriously doubt the city, with all its financial problems, is going to consider doing it for me.
If I saw something suspicious, might I turn over the photos. Yeh, I might. Is this violating someone's "privacy"? What's private about the alley at 2am? And for sure, with my attitude about government, I'm not gonna just give someone graphical evidence of people engaged in innocent activity. But if I caught a picture of someone spray-painting my neighbor's garage, I might just turn it in. And tough for the socalled "privacy" of the spray painter. Here's the thing. I'm not a libertarian, I'm not an anarchist, but I do believe in civil liberties. But I think there are people who think that any form of cooperation with law enforcement is fraternizing with the Dark Side. They won't identify themselves, necessarily, as libertarians, but I think their advocacy of privacy in public streets gives them away. Let's face it, "privacy" always has been associated in American law with the privacy of your own residence. I don't know when or where anyone said you can't be watched out in public, and the fact is that if someone wants to hire a private investigator, they can compromise every form of privacy you have. Which doesnt mean I don't want to fight for privacy, but only as regards truly PRIVATE places. If someone wants to mount a camera on Nicollet Mall, and they catch you walking down it, don't try to say you are aggrieved because you could get caught in a photograph someone is taking, too, and that's not a violation, either. -------------- Jim Mork--Cooper "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be call the Children of God." Matt 5:9 http://www.unitedforpeace.org Get your free Web-based E-mail at http://www.startribune.com/stribmail _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
