Chicago, Houston Consider Cameras in Private Businesses, Homes

HumanEventsOnline.com ^ | Feb 28, 2006 | James Plummer

[sheik yerbouty]

It is always nice to know that our officials value freedom! (sarcasm)

[ncountylee]

Put cameras and audio bugs in the politician's homes.

[Eastbound]

"VOTE NOW: Do you support proposals in Chicago and Houston that would put security cameras in private businesses and homes?"

Here's my vote: "BLAM!!! (ka-chink) "BLAM!!!" (ka-chink) "BLAM!!!"

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

..."I know a lot of people are concerned about Big Brother, but my response to that is if you are not doing anything wrong, why should you worry about it?"...

The classic response of a statist goon. If I had been there, I would have clubbed him senseless with a chair or something.

I simply can not comprehend why anyone would live or work in a city in the first place.

It seems the goons have already won, since one can not state the simple and obvious solution to this problem.

[mysterio]

Hey, if you're not doing anything wrong... /sarcasm

Voters are idiots. I'm becoming more and more convinced of it by the day. Like stupid sheep, if you give them the tools to defeat their captors, they will just stand there, bleet at you, and go back to grazing.

[Restorer]

I have little problem with cameras in public places. Cameras required in private homes or businesses should require a warrant.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Guess we just haven't yet learned to love Big Brother.

[Centurion2000]

And here's the kicker: Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt is also advocating that the local building code be changed to require that private apartment complexes install surveillance cameras. Hurtt even said he wants cameras installed, telescreen-style, in private single-family homes if he decides there have been "too many" calls for police assistance from the home.

Damn, looks like the fascists and the communists won. This is INSANE.

[CrawDaddyCA]

"BLAM!!! (ka-chink) "BLAM!!!" (ka-chink) "BLAM!!!"

Damn straight.

[mysterio]

I think polce chief Hurrt has earned himself exile with this nonsense. We as Americans can no longer put up with powerful anti-freedom authoritarians. They are the single biggest threat this country faces, a threat even more chilling and wide reaching than terrorism. They are absolutely destroying this country in a way that the terrorists only dream of.

[Paleo Conservative]

Democrat Mayor Bill White, who appointed Hurtt, has been equivocating about Hurtt's outrageous idea as the public reaction is tested.

If he has any intention to run for governor in 2008, he'll squash this proposal.

[capt. norm]

It is always nice to know that our officials value freedom! (sarcasm)

And yet look nat the big stink they made over the NSA wiretap thing.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

In the long run, they will use the fear of terrorism to accomplish everything they desire.

[Gabz]

Nanny State PING

Under the plan, private businesses that remain open more than 12 hours a day and bars that remain open until last call would have to install the cameras also. The bill as written now would not require that businesses hook up their mandatory cameras to city networks, but Chicago Tribune reports that eventually, "the city does plan to link cameras in office and apartment buildings and other private properties to its system."

Better enforcement of the new smoking ban, perchance?

[ozoneliar]

Democrat Mayor Bill White, who appointed Hurtt

Cheap,Democrat-knocking points. Draconian scheme that is the equal of anything in 1984, hatched by a democrat? Can't be.

[michigander]

How about live web cameras in the offices of elected public officials?

[davisfh]

I fail to see how at least part of this is unconstitutional and probably all of it. Problem is, it may never be tested.