The focus on Chris Christie now is how the intentional traffic snarl will affect his political future. See Chris Christie may pay a big toll for the Bridgegate scandal, for example.
But I'm probably not the only observer looking past the brouhaha and wondering if the manipulation of government resources for vindictive purposes might be going on elsewhere, even in our own little piece of flyover country.
Locals here in Midland, Texas, recently heard or saw news items about a rookie police officer who was fired and arrested for allegedly posting unflattering items to a fake facebook page of a former fling. It's a good reminder that even people who pass the most intensive scrutiny can succumb to the need to get even.
For someone with access, traffic control would seem to be the easiest way to get at someone. Imagine an angry ex-lover, to keep it in that context, working at the city traffic department, watching the camera feed from the traffic signal near a subject's house, then giving him/her red lights for the duration of the subject's commute. It's technically possible.
If we learned of this happening we would be disgusted. But really, what's to stop it? It's tempting to say that city employees just wouldn't do that. However, we may have said that about the police officer and fake facebook page, too.
Throw politics in the mix and we could come up with all types of scenarios in which city services could be used to reward or punish individuals, neighborhoods, or the entire city. If this sounds implausible remember Governor Christie the next time traffic comes to a stop.
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you.
Comments