In his recent “Bandera Declaration of Digital Independence,” Councilman Jeff Flowers attempted to use satire to defend Flock’s License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras and criticizes citizens raising concerns about privacy and government surveillance.
He referenced that his article was in the tradition of Jonathan Swift’s famous satirical essay “A Modest Proposal.” Swift uses absurdity and exaggeration to expose the failures and arrogance of those in power. There is an important difference between Swift’s work and Mr. Flowers’ article. Swift’s satire was aimed at criticizing those in power on behalf of ordinary citizens. Mr. Flowers is not an outsider challenging authority. He is a sitting member of City Council criticizing ordinary people who disagree with expanding surveillance technology.
The irony is that Flowers’ article defends power and ridicules citizens questioning it.
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