One Aspect of the Authority of Government Is Its Ability

Essay

One aspect of the authority of government is its ability to coerce its citizens to comply with the law so as to prevent them harming one another, and to make them secure from various harms (physical economic, etc.).   Indeed, even libertarians recognize that governments can justifiably limit the freedom of some of their citizens ("criminals")to protect others, as well as punish individuals who break the law (retributive justice). But what are the limits of the government's coercive powers in preventing and punishing crimes? Look at two scenarios focused on preventing crimes.   (Feel free to add or substitute your own scenarios but limit yourself to three.)Suppose the government has access to data mining and other surveillance technologies, which it uses to eavesdrop on all of its citizens in order to prevent terrorist attacks. More dramatically, suppose, as in the movie Minority Report , that the government has the technology to anticipate when crimes are going to be permitted before they are committed. Should the government use these technologies?   In general, what are the limits of the government's powers in making us more secure? What other values and rights must societies balance against security in limiting the government's powers?