Big Brother Is Watching
by Ian Mosley
On August 11th, I ran a column entitled “George Orwell’s ‘1984′ Is Here” about the increasing use of close-circuit television cameras (CCTV) in Western societies by governments to monitor the behavior and expression of their citizens. I concentrated mostly on the increasing surveillance state arising in the United Kingdom, but mentioned that CCTV culture was creeping onto the American scene as well.
Well, it didn’t take long for my prediction that “surveillance would mushroom” to come true. According to an article in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, “Milwaukee’s taverns and nightclubs could be required to install security cameras to keep an eye on customers both inside and outside, under an ordinance proposed by downtown Ald. Bob Bauman. As written, the measure would apply to all bars in the city. But Bauman said it could be revised to exclude restaurants and small taverns, leaving the focus on the largest establishments - and on the places where patrons cause the most trouble.” This is known as the “salami slicing technique,” whereby big government takes our rights away thin slice by thin slice. Once people become used to the idea of government and police spy cameras in bars, strip joints and Hooter, it will only be short time for cameras to appear at Bennigan’s, Applebee’s and everywhere else. (more…)