caution, democracy in progress

The DNC machine is putting the finishing touches on next week's Democratic National Convention (note: rumors that the nominating ceremony will happen in secret 2 days earlier than advertised have been squashed.) Boston is a city transformed. Look up as you walk the curiously litter-free streets near the convention hall and you'll notice what appear to be attractive new street lamps. But these are not ordinary street lamps. They are high-powered FBI surveillance cameras. Yes, as you and your loved ones stroll the historic FREEDOM TRAIL you can be safe in the knowledge that your freedom is being preserved, in real time, in medium close-up. So act naturally. Not that you have anything to feel guilty about. Right? Please keep moving.  Best of all, Boston gets to keep the cameras. That's right, after the convention leaves town, the "street lamps" will stay in place, reminding us that any freedom worth preserving is a freedom worth curtailing. Welcome to Boston. Like Singapore, but with clam chowder. Oh, I almost forgot: If you're visiting the convention and you're tired of being spied on where you're not sure you're being spied on, stop by the FREE SPEECH ZONE, a cordoned-off area adjacent to the convention hall reserved for the orderly expression of alternative viewpoints. Ignore the barbed wire and police dogs. Dissent is alive and well and caged for your safety. Say cheese!