Surveillance of power is one of the most important ways to ensure that power does not abuse its status. But, of course, power does not like to be watched.

It is poor civic hygiene to install technologies that could someday facilitate a police state.

Liberty requires security without intrusion, security plus privacy.

Societies without a reservoir of people who don't follow the rules lack an important mechanism for societal evolution. Vibrant societies need a dishonest minority; if society makes its dishonest minority too small, it stifles dissent as well as common crime.

Microsoft made a big deal about Windows NT getting a C2 security rating. They were much less forthcoming with the fact that this rating only applied if the computer was not attached to a network and had no network card, and had its floppy drive epoxied shut, and was running on a Compaq 386. Solaris's C2 rating was just as silly.

And honestly, if anyone thinks they can get an accurate picture of anyplace on the planet by reading news reports, they're sadly mistaken.

If the FBI parks a van bristling with cameras outside your house, you are justified in closing your blinds.