The pandemic revealed that many people have become apathetic about their rights and numb to government coercion. Young people, especially, are much less zealous of their liberties than their parents and grandparents, to the point they would actually prefer much more government involvement in their day-to-day lives.

A new study from the Cato Institute, for example, found that one-third (29%) of Americans ages 18-29 support “‘the government installing surveillance cameras in every household’ in order to ‘reduce domestic violence, abuse, and other illegal activity.’” That number is twice as large as it was for the general population: 14%.

The breakdown among political lines is unsurprising. Seventeen percent of Democrats said they would support such a policy, compared to 11% of Republicans.

The racial differences, however, are interesting. Black people, who are typically much more skeptical of law enforcement in general, offered 33% support for the proposal, as opposed to just 9% of white people.

Why anyone would think allowing the government to surveil you in your own home is a good idea is beyond me. But then again, why did so many agree to government-forced business closures or mask mandates? Why did the public so willingly acquiesce to the government’s pandemic demands?

A people invested in the practice of self-government would have thought much more carefully about the government’s COVID role. The fact that so many didn’t, and the fact that 1 in 3 young adults would now prefer literal nanny statism, is an indication that we’ve given up that right and responsibility. And once given up, self-government and the many freedoms it bestows are nearly impossible to restore.