The helicopters cost about 300 times as much as a drone, so yes I know how much cheaper that is. The point is, LAPD is not going to be able to afford enough of these to fly around watching every paranoiac who thinks big brother is after them. They don't have the time and resources.
While you are correct that drones cost less than helicopters, you failed to take into account that each drone needs a trained operator. LAPD would possibly be able to replace a single helicopter with 2-3 drones but not "a large number". The drones discussed in the article only fly 30mph for 70 minutes they can not cover the same area as a helicopter that can stay up for several hours and reach speeds over 200mph.
Your paranoia, based on the facts in the article, is unwarranted. LAPD does not have the time or money to be interested in you, unless of course you are already doing something to attract their attention.
Did you read the article? At $25k-$30k and requiring an operator per vehicle it's unlikely they will be following around Joe Citizen who has done nothing that would attract police attention. I don't know how whoever modded you up decided that a one liner encouraging paranoia was "insightful".
I love to be the bearer of bad news, but each of the military services has had their DB's used to "target the unsuspecting" for years now. This new DB will consolidate the information across the Department of Defense. Each of the services will then be able to draw from the same source, as well as find out who not to call on the opt-out list.
It will be used to drag them into a career path in which they will never be well informed enough to understand that they may one day be required to take a bullet in the head as a condition of employment...
Are you saying the "target age group" 17-24 has no clue that we are fighting a protracted war? Military recruits understand quite well that they will more than likely be going into a combat zone and they could be one of the 0.1 percent that returns home in a flag draped casket.
At my high school, which was in a relatively wealthy county, there were almost never military recruiters,...
What is your high school's recruiter visitation policy? Most schools in affluent areas have extremely restrictive policies allowing access once a semester or year.
...I have relatives that live in upstate New York. Their school district is in a relatively poor section of the country, and they have recruiters almost permanently stationed in the high schools...
Many schools that are in less affluent areas tend to allow more access to military recruiters. Military recruiters do not target based on economic status. Where would you try to spend most of your time, in a school that won't let you in the door more than twice a year or in a school that welcomes you?
...even if parents complain, the school can do nothing about the recruiters' presence due to the No Child Left Behind act.
Physical access to schools is based upon individual school board policy. The No Child Left Behind act applies only to student contact information.
Slashdot Mirror
The helicopters cost about 300 times as much as a drone, so yes I know how much cheaper that is. The point is, LAPD is not going to be able to afford enough of these to fly around watching every paranoiac who thinks big brother is after them. They don't have the time and resources.
While you are correct that drones cost less than helicopters, you failed to take into account that each drone needs a trained operator. LAPD would possibly be able to replace a single helicopter with 2-3 drones but not "a large number". The drones discussed in the article only fly 30mph for 70 minutes they can not cover the same area as a helicopter that can stay up for several hours and reach speeds over 200mph. Your paranoia, based on the facts in the article, is unwarranted. LAPD does not have the time or money to be interested in you, unless of course you are already doing something to attract their attention.
Did you read the article? At $25k-$30k and requiring an operator per vehicle it's unlikely they will be following around Joe Citizen who has done nothing that would attract police attention. I don't know how whoever modded you up decided that a one liner encouraging paranoia was "insightful".
Selective Service System Fast Facts
A DB can be sneaky?
I love to be the bearer of bad news, but each of the military services has had their DB's used to "target the unsuspecting" for years now. This new DB will consolidate the information across the Department of Defense. Each of the services will then be able to draw from the same source, as well as find out who not to call on the opt-out list.
It will be used to drag them into a career path in which they will never be well informed enough to understand that they may one day be required to take a bullet in the head as a condition of employment...
Are you saying the "target age group" 17-24 has no clue that we are fighting a protracted war? Military recruits understand quite well that they will more than likely be going into a combat zone and they could be one of the 0.1 percent that returns home in a flag draped casket.
What is your high school's recruiter visitation policy? Most schools in affluent areas have extremely restrictive policies allowing access once a semester or year.
Many schools that are in less affluent areas tend to allow more access to military recruiters. Military recruiters do not target based on economic status. Where would you try to spend most of your time, in a school that won't let you in the door more than twice a year or in a school that welcomes you?
Physical access to schools is based upon individual school board policy. The No Child Left Behind act applies only to student contact information.