Commonwealth Policy Center

Would you want the government to monitor every move inside your home? For some millennials, the answer is yes. According to a recent study by the Cato Institute, nearly one-third of 18-29-year-olds support “‘the government installing surveillance cameras in every household’ in order to ‘reduce domestic violence, abuse, and other illegal activity.” While public safety is important, how many of those surveyed considered the consequences of their views? Such an idea is antithetical to American government and civil rights. It’s only in heavy-handed communist governments that the government is concerned about monitoring its citizens. We are reminded of the words of Benjamin Franklin, who said, “Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”