I was just worrying that too many Americanist political scientists aren't viewing this unprecedented moment in US history for what it is, & here's PSQ with a whole issue on whether the US is undergoing an "authoritarian turn." Featuring @dziblatt.bsky.social, @stevelevitsky.bsky.social, among others

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anti-bedtime left filling the replies with "but muh surveillance state" as usual. there's a simple way to never be photographed by a red-light camera: don't run red lights. democratic socialism has never, ever meant "I get to drive like a jackass without consequences."

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in fact, democratic socialism demands that we care about our fellow humans *even more* than our current atomistic capitalist system. it demands that we subordinate some measure of personal convenience to promote the common good. when you run a red light to "save ten seconds," you ride with Mises.

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Someone quote-skeeted me, arguing red-light cameras can be manipulated. That is true, which is why they shouldn't be run by contractors. But when I asked how they wanted traffic laws enforced, they had no response. Every method of law enforcement is imperfect. Laws still have to be enforced.

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The alternative to traffic cameras is armed traffic police making traffic stops; I think we should minimize those to the extent possible. The answer cannot be "just don't enforce the law," because that way lies not socialism, but despotism.

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