• Bolivian officials must carry pen with microphone and camera at all times to combat corruption
    33 replies, posted
[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-18453264[/url] [quote=BBC News][B]Bolivian custom officers will have to carry special pens, with a hidden micro-camera and voice recorder, as part of a government initiative to tackle corruption.[/B] The measure was announced by customs director Marlene Ardaya, who will be issued with her own pen. "They will work as an anti-doping mechanism in the department." She explained that the voice recorders will remain active during all working hours. The authorities said officials would be selected randomly to have the recordings in their devices checked. The Bolivian Customs Department, with more than 1,000 employees, is seen as one of the most corrupt areas of the government in the South American country. It is supposed to control all import and export, including the sale of valuable mineral resources. But the Bolivian Economy Ministry estimates smuggling costs the country up to $400,000 (£250,000) in lost tax revenue.[/quote]
[QUOTE=Marbalo;36366670]Well if they just told BBC that it kind of defeats the purpose, no? Wouldn't it be better to just start distributing these pens secretly among government officials to expose corruption and root it out?[/QUOTE] I think they're sending a message, not trying to crack down on officials
I read the title at first as "Bolivian officials must carry pen, microwave, and camera at all times into combat". However, this is really good. Why don't we have things like this here?
[QUOTE=Marbalo;36366670]Well if they just told BBC that it kind of defeats the purpose, no? Wouldn't it be better to just start distributing these pens secretly among government officials to expose corruption and root it out?[/QUOTE] How would they do that? "This is just a normal, average pen. Keep it with you at all times" "But wh-" "AT ALL TIMES"
We should probably do something similar in the US. In fact, most major countries should do this.
The way you prevent corruption is decentralisation of the power structure meaning nobody has enough power to consider abusing it in the first place. This might help with some things but those in power will always find a way to keep and continue exploiting that power.
[QUOTE=JustExtreme;36367195]The way you prevent corruption is decentralisation of the power structure meaning nobody has enough power to consider abusing it in the first place. This might help with some things but those in power will always find a way to keep and continue exploiting that power.[/QUOTE] shut it fuckin commie god bless america usa usa usa
sex just got a whole lot more awkward
You there! Where is your pen? "what? I must have left it-" Get that pen back on or [I]so help me![/I] "ITS JUST A PEN" -tazed-
[QUOTE=JustExtreme;36367195]The way you prevent corruption is decentralisation of the power structure meaning nobody has enough power to consider abusing it in the first place. This might help with some things but those in power will always find a way to keep and continue exploiting that power.[/QUOTE] Or people just get paid well enough and are educated.
Doesn't seem to get rid of the corruption in the UK and America... edit: thanks for the boxes, read Private Eye and Wikileaks bitches :P
[QUOTE=JustExtreme;36367195]The way you prevent corruption is decentralisation of the power structure meaning nobody has enough power to consider abusing it in the first place. This might help with some things but those in power will always find a way to keep and continue exploiting that power.[/QUOTE] It also functions with the efficiency of triangular wheels.
Let's just corrupt the guys who rewiew the video / sound recordings.
Sounds like a good idea. We should probably do this here, too. Might also want to make this apply to on-duty police officers and military personnel. Or at the very least use a gunsight camera (like is used on combat aircraft; these are already widely available to civilians for hunting purposes, it's not even new technology), since that's something you *really* want to be able to audit afterwards.
cant think of a simon bolivar joke but god damn it i know there's one to be made
[QUOTE=gman003-main;36375622]Sounds like a good idea. We should probably do this here, too. Might also want to make this apply to on-duty police officers and military personnel. Or at the very least use a gunsight camera (like is used on combat aircraft; these are already widely available to civilians for hunting purposes, it's not even new technology), since that's something you *really* want to be able to audit afterwards.[/QUOTE] police yes, military no, they already have to carry enough equipment as it is
[QUOTE=viperfan7;36376619]police yes, military no, they already have to carry enough equipment as it is[/QUOTE] Some quick looking brought me to [url=http://www.hookertactical.com/Riflescope%20Eye-Cam.html]this[/url]. That does not look especially bulky or heavy. And odds are, they'll end up with one anyways as part of [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Warrior]Land Warrior[/url]. You know how in every video game with "Space Marines", or any sort of high-tech military thing, the soldiers have eyepieces and real-time tactical displays and all that cool shit? Yeah, the Army looked at that and said "SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY" and threw money at people until they made it. They're going to end up with gun-mounted cameras; all I'm asking is that, when they pull the trigger, it saves a copy of "what was seen through the scope" so, if there's any question about whether it was a justified kill or not, they have some evidence either way besides "take my word for it".
[QUOTE=gman003-main;36375622]Sounds like a good idea. We should probably do this here, too. Might also want to make this apply to on-duty police officers and military personnel. Or at the very least use a gunsight camera (like is used on combat aircraft; these are already widely available to civilians for hunting purposes, it's not even new technology), since that's something you *really* want to be able to audit afterwards.[/QUOTE] I don't even want to think how expensive that would be.
[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;36376846]I don't even want to think how expensive that would be.[/QUOTE] All police cruisers are equipped with dashboard (and rear?) cameras already, and SWAT teams use helmet-mounted cameras. It's not about stemming corruption directly. It's more about eliminating hearsay. Video records are just as important in [I]exonerating[/I] a cop as they are convicting one. e.g. SWAT storms a building. Badguy points a gun at them and they shoot. They have video evidence that they were justified. Contrarywise: SWAT storms a building. Little kid wanders out and a trigger-happy officer shoots him. The parents/guardians of that child have video evidence when they pursue a case against that cop or the department. It's about the truth of a situation, regardless of what that truth might be.
I know, but a a small video + microphone for every single cop and soldier would be very costly.
It's not like this invades anyone's privacy or anything. Like, I know the corruption in Bolivia is terrible, but if you think about the people who aren't corrupt, then you're looking at constantly recording what an innocent person does and says in their job on a daily basis. That and like, Bolivia is a fucked up psuedo-democracy. The government here has been autocratic and degraded and corrupt for many many years. I can understand it in Bolivia, the privacy thing, but y'know.
Now we might as well put trackers on people at all times so normal people don't commit crimes. :downs:
[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;36377082]I know, but a a small video + microphone for every single cop and soldier would be very costly.[/QUOTE] It's already in the budget. [editline]17th June 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=FreeHat;36377165]Now we might as well put trackers on people at all times so normal people don't commit crimes. :downs:[/QUOTE] Power comes with accountability. If you are empowered with the authority to shoot people, you are held to a higher standard.
[QUOTE=Lankist;36377172]It's already in the budget.[/QUOTE] I'm talking about the tiny microphone spy cameras or whatever that gmain mentioned
[QUOTE=gman003-main;36376736]Some quick looking brought me to [url=http://www.hookertactical.com/Riflescope%20Eye-Cam.html]this[/url]. That does not look especially bulky or heavy. And odds are, they'll end up with one anyways as part of [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Warrior]Land Warrior[/url]. You know how in every video game with "Space Marines", or any sort of high-tech military thing, the soldiers have eyepieces and real-time tactical displays and all that cool shit? Yeah, the Army looked at that and said "SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY" and threw money at people until they made it. They're going to end up with gun-mounted cameras; all I'm asking is that, when they pull the trigger, it saves a copy of "what was seen through the scope" so, if there's any question about whether it was a justified kill or not, they have some evidence either way besides "take my word for it".[/QUOTE]Land Warrior was already cancelled back in 2007, just thought I'd say
Make it so that the recordings are uploaded so citizens can hear them. Maybe then we could have a transparent democracy.
[QUOTE=Pie108;36377328]Make it so that the recordings are uploaded so citizens can hear them. Maybe then we could have a transparent democracy.[/QUOTE] I doubt that'll work, they'll just adapt to using codewords for everything.
This could also be used as evidence to press charges against criminals as well, in a court of law video and sound evidence is probably the most reliable source of information so this is good for police corruption and crimes
[QUOTE=fruxodaily;36377604]in a court of law video and sound evidence is probably the most reliable source of information[/QUOTE] Well, not entirely. It must be verified and its context must be unambiguous.
[QUOTE=Lankist;36377619]Well, not entirely. It must be verified and its context must be unambiguous.[/QUOTE] Of course but still, if it is verified then it is useful.
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