Somebody's Watching Me… And I Like It

The U.K. is the most surveilled nation on earth, and its citizens aren't so fond of that. (You can read Spiked's Brendan O'Neill for more on this.) The U.S. could easily outstrip the U.K. if lawmakers decide to put more cameras on the streets, and Americans… seem perfectly O.K. with that.

Given the chief arguments, pro and con—a way to help solve crimes vs. too much of a government intrusion on privacy—it isn't close: 71 percent of Americans favor the increased use of surveillance cameras, while 25 percent oppose it.

People aged 18-29 are the bulwark of opposition to cameras with a whopping—wait for it—thirty-three percent against them. Thirty-two percent of African-Americans oppose the cameras, and after that the anti numbers get awfully small. Supermajorities of Republicans, independents, whites and elderly people want watchful eyes up on their corners as fast as we can nail them up.

(Hat tip: Henry Baughman)