At 04:45 PM 1/28/01 +0000, you wrote:
>Here is the latest news on the automatic speed limiters testing:
>
>http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,425344,00.html
>
>
>So, while this may be a "good" application, it does appear that society is
>gaining more and more powerful technology which will be used to enforce
>objectives which the majority in a society accept as "good". This will be
>unfortunate for minorities and perhaps society as a whole should pay more
>attention to the rights of minorities. Just because they are "different"
>doesn't mean they have to be fined or locked up. Where does being
>"different" shade into being "criminal"?
>
>On the other hand, this technology is not being used to fine people or to
>lock them up. Instead it is being used to make the unwanted (criminal?)
>behaviour impossible to carry out. This seems a less threatening way for the
>authorities to behave. It is like developing an immunisation jab that makes
>pot have no effect on people, or an added ingredient to beer that stops
>people getting drunk, or a car that refuses to drive with a drunk driver,
>etc. Is it likely in future that there will be far fewer people in prison
>because more "crimes" will become impossible to commit?
>
>BillK
What I want to know is: Does this system allow you to exceed the "speed
limit" in an emergency, such as an evasive maneuver, passing, or trying to
get away from a homicidal maniac who has disabled said system in HIS car...
How long do you think it will be after such a system is mandated until the
powers that be start collecting data from it for "enforcement" purposes?
I envision a rise in suicides and violent interpersonal behavior if
there's no way in society to "blow off steam" because some benevolent Big
Brother won't allow it - passively...
Chuck Kuecker
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Mon May 28 2001 - 09:56:26 MDT