Response to recent conversation
Atlanta Forward readers responded to recent columns about data-collecting black boxes being included in all new cars by next year. Here are some select comments:
Morris Devereaux: I don't know why we even try to pretend that we have any expectation of privacy, freedom or liberty in this country anymore. We have a government that can track our every move. We have to get its permission to have medical care. The government tells us what property we can keep and decides which of its friends are exempt from taxes. Other than just throwing us in jail (which does happen if we question things), what else needs to be done before people realize that America has become a nation of slaves?
xxx: As soon as they can detect texting and other cell phone-related distractions, I'm in.
Whirled Peas: The federal government has no business telling me or anyone else what I must have in my car. The Constitution specifies the areas the federal government can regulate. All other areas are the authority of the individual states. Get Big Brother out of my life.
Sandy: When the Constitution was written, there was no such thing as an automobile. Does that mean constitutional law cannot refer to and interpret law in relation to the automobile?
DeborahinAthens: Ah, the lawyers want the black boxes so they can sue more people. Where does this nonsense end? It is nobody's business where I'm going and how fast I'm driving to get there, unless you're the policeman that catches me speeding. I hate this country we seem to be creating. My God, where does my freedom begin?
Starik: We should go a step further and make dashboard camera recorders standard equipment as well. This would help establish who is at fault in a collision, who ran the red light, conclusively. We should also require policemen to wear individual recorders to establish exactly what happened in an encounter leading to an arrest. There would be less useless litigation and more certainty in court, similar to the effect of DNA technology in some criminal cases. Enough of the tea party paranoia.
Historian: Tyranny has always been sold under the cloak of safety and security. This is no different. This is ultimately about tracking the movements of everyone, everywhere. Don't kid yourself by thinking otherwise. This won't end well. It never does. Just ask the Germans, East Germans, Russians, Yugoslavians, Chinese, etc.
Mangler: People simply don't want to be caught when they are at fault for something. Now that technology is being implemented that can dispute someone's claim about their own behavior and habits, they feel as if somehow that's restricting their freedom. I know that my car has a black box in it, and I know that if I screw up, it'll be there to tell the story. Guess what? I've occasionally resisted the urge to act out a little behind the wheel because I know the car is paying attention. That's not a bad thing.
