TO THE EDITOR:
I think it's a bit of an overstatement to say that having ISAAC tape the war protest was a "waste of taxpayer money," as Billie Murray said on March 26 ("Videotaping rally was a waste of taxpayer money").
They videotape events partially for the purpose of protecting the protesters in case they're confronted or attacked by others or if they're accused of damaging something. Having the government videotape your rally doesn't mean you're being "considered terrorists," but that it's smarter to have a visual record of something in case questions arise later.
I recall a similar argument arising from "dash cams" on the dashboards of police cars. They were installed because the government was worried that police were using excessive force and beating suspects. In the end the cameras did explain the origins of most wounds - they were self-inflicted by the suspects themselves, done to try to claim police brutality.
In other words the seemingly apparent purpose of police surveillance (whether it's to record war protestors or try to catch cops who beat suspects) is usually not what the video ultimately ends up being used for.
Trent McCotter
Economics
Senior
