Vance Packard Quote 

"The most common characteristic of all police states
is intimidation by surveillance.
Citizens know they are being watched and overheard.
Their mail is being examined. Their homes can be invaded."

by:
Vance Packard
(1914-1996) American journalist, social critic, and author
Source:
The People Shapers, 1977
Categories:
 
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Reader comments about this quote:
I don't know if it is the most common, but it does loom ominous here.
 -- Mike, Norwalk		 
A seminal quote, eh? And the good folks say "If you're not doing anything wrong, you don't have anything to worry about." ...untill you can't have a "dangerous thought" of your own!
 -- Senor Reek, Heartland, USA		 
 -- Anonymous, Reston, VA US 
We the People have not authorized our government to surveil every person and movement, but via the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, they have turned us all into 'employees' bound to the reams and reams of commercial law intended to govern inter-state commerce and incorporated entities. A perversion of law in one instance begets another and another until the whole system is but an arbitrary code of governance for funnelling the fruits of the labors of the People into the pockets of lawyers and politicians. It is a crime against the People -- and they keep an eye out for any dissenters and apply pressure when 'necessary'.
 -- E Archer, NYC		 
Government agents don't care about the Fourth Amendment.
 -- Joe, Rochester, MI		 
But why would such a person, who is presumably well educated and focused on the issue of discussion, fail to mention the commonality of physical torture, imposed hunger, restriction of movement, physical slavery, and the more invasive and evil actions of the worst police states, which control 2 billion people today.
 -- David L. Rosenthal		 
Because, David, the US now imprisons more people per capita than any other nation on Earth -- and the majority of the so-called crimes are non-violent and political in nature. And the trend is not slowing. As far as torture is concerned, it is implemented throughout the world behind closed bars. It can happen here -- it is happening here. Take a stand against an unjust law, get imprisoned, and see for yourself.
 -- E Archer, NYC		 
 -- Pat, San Jose 
More true today than ever before! An episode of The Outer Limits TV show "O.B.I.T." makes this very same point.
 -- karl anglin, northridge		 
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