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> Whereas China/Russia has people tracking dissidents etc.

If you think the USA doesn't track dissidents you've been walking around with your eyes and ears shut.

Comparing what the US does to citizens to what Russia/China do is laughable and childish.

Are you asserting that that’s a bad thing?

What, like, tear gas people for a photo op in front of a church the cunt ain't never even been in?

It depends on who is doing the tracking and who the dissidents are. I think most will agree it’s in the interest of the country to track “dissidents” who are bent on inciting “race” wars and so on. Violent anarchists probably also get in that list. Basically any seriously credible threat to the state and its citizens.

Do you believe it is reasonable to draw a distinction between dissident and criminal?

In many aspects yes but you also don’t want surprises. Most members of those groups haven’t been caught doing criminal activity; does that mean you ignore them because they haven’t struck.

If you hear rumblings about a heist it makes sense to monitor the conspirators even if they have not yet done the heist.

Conspiracy to commit crime is already a crime.

Being a dissident, not so much.

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