Behold the Chinese surveillance state:
Almost any American would look upon this sort of thing with horror. And yet… I wonder how long it will be before it comes here? Consider this modest conspiracy theory…
1) There are those in government who seek the power to dominate, to impose their will on The Little People. Shocking, I know, but true nonetheless.
2) A fantastic way to wield that power is through a police state, as in the USSR, East Germany, “1984,” etc.
3) But Americans have long been uneasy-to-downright-hostile about that sort of thing.
4) So… defund the police. Decriminalize crime… start with “minor” crimes like shoplifting, then step it up to assault and outright attempted murder. Release violent criminals onto the streets to offend again and again. Let some cities devolve into violent hellscapes while at the same time accusing anyone who complains of racism.
5) The citizens get desperate. Boost this by prosecuting those who defend themselves, more aggressively than prosecution of actual criminals.
6)”Something must be done!”
7) Something is done. Not the enforcement of actual laws and the firing/arresting/charging with treason of those public officials who allowed things to devolve into chaos… but the implementation of Common Sense Gun Safety Laws and Common Sense Travel Restrictions and Common Sense Social Credit Scores.
8) By the time enough people wake up to the fact they’re living under Big Brother, it’s too late.
9) Cackle maniacally while you and the other Social Betters fly around the world in your luxury jets gnawing upon caviar while The Little People stay in their pods and eat the bugs.