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It's like the Texas approach to abortion.

The whole thing just doesn't feel right. I don't care if, in this particular case, the cause is not-terrible (preventing pollution). There's just something "off" about the enforcement mechanism.

Serious crimes? Sure: Do your civic duty; call the police. But this? Mind your own business.

It feels vaguely East-German.

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The Texas approach is quite different -- it encourages people to sue other people with completely artificial standing. In fact the Texas approach was designed to be entirely different from a government run bounty program in an attempt to undermine the constitution.

This is more similar to whistleblower laws that pay a bounty for taxes recovered by the IRS. In both cases the government is the one taking the action that fines the perp.

In any case, pollution is my business.

I’m Texas’ approach the gov is not involved in taking any action. That’s why the law can stand as there is no gov office enforcing it.

In both cases it pits citizens again citizens, which is what’s starting to feel creepy.

Not to me. East German reporting was about controlling the citizenry to support the regime in power. This is about protecting the health and comfort of one's neighbors and oneself. That is very much my business.

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