Mods don't like this topic. It's totally Grand Rapids relevant. But the original post was deleted. Neverminding the racist support of Flock, it was a good discussion, which will continue in the usual places, if not here.
That said, what are WE prepared to do to not hand access to our (even if unwanted) Flock Cameras to the Federal Government?
I'm sure the FBI can be trusted to be Apolitical, Right?
Just the other day u/zach-lassiter reported **"Kalamazoo Police Removes GRPD Flock Camera Access (AGAIN)"** right here in r/grandrapids where the US Marshals were scrolling the system.
Fascists, socialists, communists, theocracists, it doesn't matter. We have given ANY extremist, or even moderate, political ideology the tools to further bolster their power base.
"Safety" or security has ALWAYS been weaponized. Cops carry guns "for their safety". Knights carried swords, to "defend their land". But also to subjugate their people.
Every castle can become a prison. Even caves are as efficient at keeping dangers out, as keeping dangers in.
This is not a "Left vs Right" thing. This is giving a toddler a hammer in a china shop, ideology doesn't matter; this is giving a tool to someone with no idea of consequence. Our elected officials cannot be trusted with a budget, Left or Right. Now we are arming "The Party Police" with unfettered access to the daily lives of the people, just like China has had for YEARS.
What could the Bushes, Biden, Kamala, Sanders, or Trump do if they knew EXACTLY what anyone, anywhere was doing or saying all for the cost of Air? For the manpower required to move a mouse?
*"But it helps us catch criminals!!"* That's lovely, until YOUR political view makes YOU the criminal. If a totalitarian government is what we want, in any flavor, this is the base it needs.