One third of young people love Big Brother
The last line of Orwell’s masterpiece Nineteen-Eighty-Four is, “He loved Big Brother.” Said of protagonist Winston Smith, it describes his final internal capitulation to lengthy torture and “re-education” of the most extreme sort.
But some people don’t have to be tortured to embrace the concept:
In a newly released Cato Institute 2023 Central Bank Digital Currency National Survey of 2,000 Americans, we asked respondents whether they “favor or oppose the government installing surveillance cameras in every household to reduce domestic violence, abuse, and other illegal activity.”
Fourteen percent of respondents favored the statement, but 29% of those under thirty favored it. This astonishing result isn’t explained, but my guess is that it’s because younger people are: (a) used to surveillance while in public because they grew up with ubiquitous cameras in public places (b) Used to filming themselves (c) used to filming others in order to expose what they consider bad behavior (d) used to more government intrusion into more aspects of life; and (e) anticipating that government will mainly be on their side (the left side?). I would wager that their education in the blessings and even the meaning of liberty has been lacking, as well.
Only 6% of those over 45 favored it, interestingly enough, and that was pretty much in all decades of the over-45 crowd (over-65 had 5% agreement).
Overall, Republicans were less in favor than Democrats, but not all that much less: 11% versus 17%. But surprisingly – at least to me – black people were very much more in favor, to the tune of 33% (versus 9% among whites). The only reason I can think of for black people to answer that way is that many are desperate to reduce shootings and other crimes, as well as drug abuse. But it still seems odd to me, because it’s not been my impression that black people as a group are especially trustful of the government.
[NOTE: This survey question was embedded in a larger survey about support for a central bank digital currency, and perhaps that somehow influenced the mindset in which people answered the question about surveillance.]
Yes, the ubiquity of cameras and screens is a major factor, but perhaps even more important is the fact that so many young people have been so relentlessly indoctrinated and propagandized, conditioned and programmed (through schooling, social media, and popular culture) into passive acceptance of whatever is both fashionable and approved by government, corporate culture, and various so-called “experts” (as well as endlessly endorsed by celebrities) that they have little desire “to question authority”. The lack of public awareness of the implications of any CBDC is also highly troubling indeed.
Not surprised.
Under 30s video everything and post it to TikTok anyway… What’s one or two more cameras here and there?
Yeah, well, they’ll get what they deserve, eh?
Benjamin Franklin once said: “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”
The patterns of the responses are interesting. Those calling themselves ‘liberal’ or ‘moderate’ are more likely to support surveillance cameras than those who call themselves ‘very liberal’, as well as ‘conservative’ or ‘very conservative’.
‘Some college’ or ‘college degree’ seems to make people more opposed to surveillance, but ‘post-grade degree’ is almost as bad on this dimension as ‘high school or less’.
Since ‘domestic violence’ was mentioned as a factor that camera could supposedly reduce, it would have been worthwhile to ask about person experiences with domestic violence and tabulate the camera support that way, as well as cross-tabbing with some of the other questions.
on person of interest, another nolan project, the inventor of the ai harold finch says he invented social media, as an information gathering resource,
You forget (f): They’re dumb.
the youngest cohort is more foolish, but the overall report is favorable, I don’r see the demographic breakdown,
I can take a guess what it is. They honestly think “I’m in the right group so it doesn’t matter if there’s cameras in the house. It’ll never affect me, it’ll only affect those naughty people.” IE they’re historically illiterate.
it is the most solipsistic generation though
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2023/06/the_new_york_times_screams_out_in_defense_of_lawlessness.html
David Foster hints at my thought.
Many people apparently want to respond to tons of emails or survey questions, but think they can do it super fast. The phrasing of the question is quite interesting.
What is this survey person asking me? Am I for domestic violence or against it? Oh, I’m against it. Especially if I’ve had up-close and personal exposure to it.
How about, “government … reduce[ing] … other illegal activity.”? Was that part of the question? They must be talking about domestic violence being against the law.
Most people aren’t that dumb in an absolute sense, but if … if the survey was conducted over the telephone and even smart people were rushing; it can happen.
(e) anticipating that government will mainly be on their side (the left side?). I would wager that their education in the blessings and even the meaning of liberty has been lacking, as well.
Well, the teachers unions are stoutly biased on the left side, and if their teachings have become more and more authoritative (as are the ‘behavior’ and ‘pronoun’ edicts of DEI), the young sprats now get a decade of authoritarian twaddle which leaves the concept of individual liberty (and tolerance for it) gasping in the mud. Their paintbrush ‘diversity’ carefully excludes such heresies.
Wonder what the current teachings on the scientific method are excluding.
I am not as well educated on statistics as are many here, but I would question relying a survey population of only 2000 people, sliced and diced into age, sex, race, and education categories, as having enough folks in each category to ensure meaningful results or solid interpretations.
Time and cost are limiting factors, of course, and this is not a life and death medical/technical situation; but failure to reverse some of this mindset might well lead to more death than we would like.
I think those unnecesary lockdowns, masks and vaccine mandates,’social distancing’ back in 2020 were a trial run for future Big Brotherism
it should be encouraging that the most gullible generation is not that gullible, unless you have to deal with that 20%
I am not as well educated on statistics as are many here, but I would question relying a survey population of only 2000 people
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The sample size is sufficient. The problem is that the collapse of the landline network has removed a convenient way of obtaining probability samples.
If the object is to reduce ‘domestic violence’, we’re not talking about traffic cameras on the Interstate or security cameras in commercial establishments and government buildings.
What’s the point of having all kinds of surveillance cameras all over the place if those Soros prosecutors are NOT doing their jobs in practically EVERY Democratic Party-run city in the country????
Oh, hold on a sec…
What evidence is there that in-home cameras are a protection against anything? Might be useful in court but any damage is already done. It is a loaded question implying benefits while ignoring every other consequence.