The precautionary principle is a dominant theme in modern society, notwithstanding the setback it suffered yesterday on vetting and barring. It is not only present in the cloying, crushing clamps on anything that might conceivably "harm" children - it has also found a willing partner in the days of *black special* terror scareathons, and it's still on the march.
Just by way of example, the proliferation of body scanners at airports. Yes, there are all manner of concerns about whether they work, whether they might harm those going through them, the vast expense... but if it saves one life...
How about scanners at railway stations, too? That's what's planned now in Italy. After all, you can't be too careful...
What next? How about in schools? Just in case...
Then in shopping centres, perhaps? Well, if it saves one life...
And so we become conditioned to such control everywhere, ad cottonwoolum. And what have you got to complain about? It's for your own good! And if you've got nothing to hide, you've got nothing to fear...
