Quote:
Originally Posted by dmderosa2k
I would not say the cameras are illegal. I actually think they are ok. If you do not break the law, why worry?
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I respect where you are coming from, but I cannot describe how wholeheartedly I fervently disagree with this notion...you hear it all the time in defense of government beauracracy..."if you don't break the law, you have nothing to worry about", etc.
Here is a fact:
-Every man and woman in the United States has broken a law. Some people hate to hear it, some people think they are "good people" whatever that means and have never broken a law. But the fact is this - we are all fallible, mortal human beings who make mistakes and break laws - knowingly or unknowingly. Have you ever gone 2 miles per hour over the speed limit? If you have...you have broken the law! Have you ever crossed an intersection in an area that was not properly designated for such?...eg: "jaywalking"...if you have, you have broken the law!
Have you ever brought a pen home from work that didn't belong to you accidently? Broke the law!
Have you ever maybe just not completely stopped on a right hand turn but instead had a rolling pause? That is breaking the law! Have you ever accidently driven with a light of some sort burnt out (that you didn't eve know about) - you broke the law!
Here is the point - yes, we all have broken a law.
And I just believe most drivers - at one point or another - accidentally generally - have entered an intersection a 1/10 second too late - just as yellow became red. I think with these people, most generally do not do it, and most people do not even try to "press it." I would argue strongly that those who don't fit this mold and are completely irresponsible enough to blatantly continuously run red lights...they would be doing so regardless of camera or none - likely they won't care about a fine, as they aren't paying it anyway!
So...the big question that questions like "if you don't break the law, why be worried?" totally don't grasp is - really, truly, HOW do you want to live? Do you want to live free...which means not having the option to continously openly break laws, but rather means being a responsible citizen but not having government / Big Brother monitor every thought, word and deed you do in your daily life wherever or whenever you do it. Or...in the hope of somehow trying to make your life more "safe" or insulated, are you willing to let the government pretty much oversee your many actions like a parent of a 1-year old and live your life like that. Live under the scrutiny of the government and - bang! - big fine each and every time you slip up (just like they themselves and everyone else on earth does).
To me...it is quite simple, and I think itelligent people can fall on both sides of the debate (but to me personally, I think there is only one reasonable answer): Do you value safety or freedom more in life. And while you surely hope there is a reasonable dosage of both, how far are you willing to compromise freedome in the name of safety?
To those that say: Oh, it is just a few red light cameras, the government is ONLY monitoring you if you run a red light with those cameras. While this may be true - for now - I agrue those folks have very little understanding of history and precedence in government, and how a snow-ball effect always DOES occur. It isn't "if"...it is "when." I could cite more examples of this than you can shake a stick at.
It may "just be" 20 intersections right now...but it won't be in five years unless the intrusiveness is killed now.
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