08-18-2011, 04:13 AM
The question long pre-dates even the telephone. Either, those in authority have the power to crush protest-revolutionary/terrorist groups, or they do not. If they do, there is historical evidence that many oppressive laws would never have been repealed; if they do not, I am likely to have a brick or two through my window, or worse (and I have had a brick through my window, years ago - it is not good.)
Is it right for police to use informants? Does that not curb civil liberties? Who knows what some nasty person may say about me --or you? People have been demanding that policing be 'intelligence-led', rather than relying on gut feeling or stop and search. Where might intelligence come from, in a way which does not, to some degree, abridge civil rights?
We have a good police force, by and large -- but still, it needs a long-term strategy to improve the quality of recruit, and to monitor their progress so that a bright, idealistic person does not become immersed in 'canteen culture'. If the police is trustworthy, many curtailments of liberty become theoretical. As of now, I think that having coppers try and find crims on Twtter or Blackberries is preferable to ordinary people deciding that they need to obtain illegal firearms. At least, that is what I think that I think.
Is it right for police to use informants? Does that not curb civil liberties? Who knows what some nasty person may say about me --or you? People have been demanding that policing be 'intelligence-led', rather than relying on gut feeling or stop and search. Where might intelligence come from, in a way which does not, to some degree, abridge civil rights?
We have a good police force, by and large -- but still, it needs a long-term strategy to improve the quality of recruit, and to monitor their progress so that a bright, idealistic person does not become immersed in 'canteen culture'. If the police is trustworthy, many curtailments of liberty become theoretical. As of now, I think that having coppers try and find crims on Twtter or Blackberries is preferable to ordinary people deciding that they need to obtain illegal firearms. At least, that is what I think that I think.