I was absolutely bowled over by this article coming out of the UK's Daily Express about the government expanding its use of "sin bins" for 20,000 of England's families enrolled in Family Intervention Projects.
Sin bins are private homes subject to closed circuit television monitoring to ensure kids are being raised right (sent to school, properly fed and disciplined). Parents and children sign a behaviour contract with the British government, and the government, in turn hopes/thinks the extra attention will reduce the number of kids getting involved in random delinquency and hard crime.
Aside from the obvious comparisons to Orwell's 1984 and the implications from such a widespread invasion of privacy, this is really just a by product of today's voyeuristic culture combined with the pervasive political apathy.
Imagine that. Britain, which has more CCTVs watching its people than the whole of Europe, has decided to take reality TV for the government employees to a whole new level. It's like the Dr. Phil House without the free counseling at the end of the rainbow.
Can't wait until they decide to make it pay per view to make some money off it.
These private eyes are watchin' you...B
