What can a person say about this that hasn't already been said?

"There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible to live without breaking laws."

- Ayn Rand

The reasoning behind public surveillance seems to be "If you're not doing anything wrong, then you have nothing to worry about". What's good for the goose is also good for the gander.
This law is disgusting for so many reasons. Namely, that most people don't care enough to speak up about it, I'm sure.

Perhaps these posts should include some sort of link to email, or otherwise contact the offending parties. If enough of us make our voices heard we could make a difference.

You can contact the 35th district of the Philadelphia police at the following numbers: 215.686-3350
215.686-3351

I will quote a line of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, appropriate for this occasion.

"That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness."

If we had a population of armed citizens, rather than a bunch of cowed sheep, these "pigs", thats what they are, would all be dangling from the end of a rope right about now. That is what they deserve. The members of the government who made this law, would also be joining them. The people better wake up and realize that it is not only their natural right, but it is their DUTY, non-violently if possible, violently if necessary, to overthrow an oppresive government.

It's funny how a party who supports capitalism doesn't realize that capitalism is the reason why people don't rise against the government. The wealthy elite blind the people with consumption and competition and provide entertainment through sports and television as a way to keep people content.

Capitalism is NOT the problem. The quasi-mercantilism engaged in by government and corporations is the problem. Mercantilism is by NO means capitalism. Capitalism leads to prosperity. Mercantilism ultimately leads to corruption and destruction. People's complacency and laziness is their own fault and NOT the fault of capitalism. They can overcome their apathy and rise up against the government at any time. That they don't is their fault alone. No capitalist can force you to indolent choices. Individuals make these choices on their own. You can be a lazy indolent sheep, like 99% of Americans and live like a subject. Or you can take up arms and be a true citizen. Even police can be cowed by an armed and resolute public, IF that public would stand up for itself.

Okay, I've had just about enough of this -- Mark B.:

You help nothing with your insistence upon referring to the american populace as "sheep" or "sheeple" (paraphrasing the latter).

Further -- while capitalism in and of itself has nothing inherently to do with the misdirection employed by those with authority to retain their authority, mercantilism as you put it, Mark, is in many ways the inevitable result of capitalism without morality or ethics.

The American populace are neither lazy, indolent, nor indolent. We (as a nation) have been entirely misdirected by those with authority and the resources to do so into accepting the status quo.

That *sounds* conspiratorial, and yet... the educational information available to the public leads to the public reactions and actions.

Without proper education, nothing can occur. We as a party have but one two mechanisms to affect this change: Activism and Electoral Success. All other venues are the forum of something other than a political party.

None, however, are aided by insinuations that citizens of the US are guilty of all the atrocities committed by those whom oppress them simply because "they let it happen."

They have to *know better* first, or *see the problem.*

Got any solutions as to how to make that happen?

I want to play devil's advocate here...

The police have enough to worry about when they are making an arrest. (regardless of the views of whether drugs should be legal, they currently aren't). Obviuosly this person was thought dangerous or possibly armed or that size of force would not have been utilized. Not only are they worrying about thier safety but now they have to worry about some camera happy dolt.

If he took a picture at just the right moment the image could have been falsely construed as "police brutality". (It has been shown in recent court cases that the 'abused' child really was not but do to the time elapse of the hidden camera it looks to be the case). Or maybe the picture could have violated the criminal's "civil rights" or something, then the case is thrown out, and weeks - possibly more - of police work has gone down the drain.

These instances can in theory be viewed as obstruction.

A bigger issue in Philadelphia (and PA) is how the government wants to disarm it's law abiding citizens because of gun crime...but you won't see the ACLU defending anyone in that case.

IanC:

I use the term "sheep" simply because it is relevant and true. It is not an invective insult. Most of these people are capable of thought and action and some would probably make good Libertarians if they would only rise up and pay attention.

At one time in this country, if government overreached, the people rose up and rectified the problem. There are many times where the people stormed jails to free those wrongly persecuted by government. Many other time where governments backed down when confronted by an angry populace. Government should be in constant fear and terror of the population, not the other way around. Apathy is just as much an enemy as people who actively promote either socialism or neo-conservatism and I am going to call both to account. Part of the "solution" is pointing out the problem. One of the problems is "apathy" and by my use of the word "sheep" I am pointing that problem out. I am part of the solution in doing so. Until the problem is pointed out and acknowledged, there can be no solution.

Mercantilism is a corruption of Capitalism, instituted by the Government. It is not a fault of capitalism, instead it is a corrupting influence on capitalism, perpetrated by the government and with the government bearing 100% of the blame.

Chief among the damaging mercantilist weapons are grants of limited liability and personhood to corporations. Both of these, among other things, are responsible for much of corporate wrongdoing and corruption. Eliminate these things and much of the corrupting influence on corporations will be removed.

Exclusive franchising agreements, etc., are another source of mercantile influence on capitalism. As are no-bid contracts, etc. Laws such as the Service Contract Act and related acts also distort and create mercantile influences. The obscene number of regulatory laws, including all labor and wage laws, also, cummulatively, act as a mercantile influence, allowing larger firms which can better absorb the costs of these laws to outcompete smaller firms.

Another horrible influence is the Federal Reserve System. Not just its inflation per se. But by creating a flood of fiat money, it enables the speculation that causes so much trouble in the economy today.

I have the solution. Obviously the whole solution would entail writing a volume of books greater than an encyclopedia in length. But create a rough summary. Eliminate the Federal Reserve and go to a true gold standard, 100% reserve banking system. Eliminate corporate personhood and limited liability. Eliminate several volumes of laws from the U.S. Code and whole reams of regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations. Less corrupting government, and more free markets, trade and above all peace is what we need.

In Response to Mark B.
First, I will say I agree with you about the Federal Reserve and Mercantalism. Now, IanC has already pointed out something important. And that is education is the key. Can you honestly expect an UNEDUCATED mass who was born into a life of competition and consumption rather then cooperation and progress to care enough about these issues? People can easily be blind when those who rule us use their resources to see to it.

I, too, am keenly concerned with education in this society. Specifically, the vast majority that are squeezed and wrung through the banal and counter productive public school system. As we are getting increasingly off topic, I will not go into it on this thread. Other than to say that the whole topic of education in this country needs complete rethinking from top to bottom.

For freedom to be restored in this nation it will not be dependent of what the masses do or whom they elect. The election process is a farce and has been for years. This country has a one party system with two different names. This will turn on the choice each of us as individuals make. There are only two:

1. OBEY
2. RESIST

My choice is made, I think you know which.

Your turn.