There is an interesting book out about cameras and privacy. Oh, damn. I can’t think of the name of it now. But part of the discussion is how they can be good as well as bad. See, they are BAD if only big brother has them. But we little sisters can film big brothers hurtin on us. It creates this weird balance of power. Damn – this is really useful without the book title, isn’t it?

We’re conditioning entire generations of people to think nothing of stuff like these checkpoints. We get used to this. Our kids never know a world without it. Perhaps in another decade, the checkpoints are just there all the time. Our kids get used to it. Their kids never know a world without it. Etc.

Folks, it’s not the checkpoint described in this news article per se that is so heinously offensive–it’s the fact that it’s at the top of the slipperiest fucking slope there is. IT IS NOT OKAY, and already, a depressingly small number of us even know to object. Why? Well, that’s the way it is. Whaddya gonna do? Hey, what’s on TV tonight? Who ate the last oatmeal cream pie?

I blew my son’s mind a week or so ago when I told him that when I was his age, I could get up, go to school, go to the grocery store with my mom, come home, go out to play, and go out to eat without ever once being on a camera anywhere.

But what is the connection between stopping people going about their business on a public street and reducing the murder rate? I suspect it’s arguable whether there’s even a transient benefit, but assuming said transient benefit is a slam-dunk, what’s the ultimate point? Or do you actually think they’re going to catch anyone with such a practice? I don’t care for the waste of money; I don’t care for the dog-and-pony politics of it all; and I really, viscerally don’t care for the presumption of guilt, which is exactly what it is.

Moreover, where does it stop? You know, I think all subdivisions should have armed police officers at their entrances, demanding the identification and itinerary of all comers and goers, when it’s dark outside. It’s For Our Protection. Would the violent crime rate go down? Oh, almost certainly. At what cost? Is it worth it? Not in my America.

This is 180 out from what our founders envisioned. Of course, they also envisioned a widely armed populace, lack of which I suspect is the biggest single problem with the crime rate in DC.