Reply #9: Like your stuff Britethorn... now for this..

[Piewhacket]

1) the cop did and should courteously provide his badge # if courteously asked
and it will not otherwise interfere with his duties. Obviously
if he is in the middle of an arrest etc then even requesting a badge
COULD BE interference with a police officer, a crime, so people need to be
damn careful about 'confronting' police. Better to just stand back and video.
However, be prepared for the old "confiscation of the video" trick if the officer
thinks there is some 'evidence' there he needs you not to have.

2) most officers do their job professsionally, but some do not and lack of
apparent accountability for those who do not has fostered public distrust
and suspicion. the imho the distrust is more than amply earned and unless
and until restored police can expect ever increasing review of their conduct
using surveillance. I wish it didn't need to be so, but in a democracy
it is our responsibility to monitor our government... WE guard the guardians.

3) Given the amount of intrusive and pervasive and ILLEGAL law enforcement
surveillance of citizens over the last 50 years, and especially abusively the last
10 years its completely frost me to hear any government actor even imagine
complaining about surveillance on them. WE the People rules this land, and
the government is our servant, not the f*cking other way around. That said with
all due respect to the officer in question.

4) Privacy is important, without it there is no liberty. Its that simple.
Personal privacy needs to be protected, and government privacy needs to be abused.

So thats what I be thinking Britethorn. For what its worth.
Love your stuff. Nice piece here too.