PolicyGuy

Tuesday, January 31, 2006


Cameras, Cameras, Everywhere.
Richard M. Daley, mayor of Chicago, has called for the city to require security cameras of every business that is open 12 hours or more a day. His rationale: "Cameras really prevent much crime. Cameras also solve a lot of crime. The terrorist attacks in London were solved by cameras. The whole incident was solved by cameras."

There are at least two policy problems with this idea: the first is the obvious fear of "big brother," whether or not the surveillance is conducted by city police or not.

The question that arises has to do with government mandates. Businesses that have seen a financial requirement for the cameras will have already gotten them by this point; beyond this, any further installation would occur by city mandate.

Ironically, the mayor invokes the notion of private property to call for the violation of private property rights: "Look at the police radio [log]. ... Why should we be clearing every parking lot out for the owner of the drive-in? That's their responsibility. It's their land."

Perhaps Da Mare Jr. would prefer private law enforcement?

If this proposal is enacted, expect a number of businesses to close up shop early.

"Justice Louis D. Brandeis'?s metaphor of the states as "laboratories" for policy experiments ... had almost nothing to do with federalism and everything to do with his commitment to scientific socialism. .... To this day, it continues to inhibit a truly experimental, federalist politics." -- Michael S. Greve

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