Emergency powers get justified as preemption of a worse future crackdown

Evidence

In Germany, the current Interior Minister Wolfgang Schauble, has begun calling for expanded powers for the police. He faces strong opposition from those who fear that this might lead Germany back to a police state. Schauble’s response, however, is worth noting: if such powers are not granted now, Germany will become a police state when future acts of Islamic terrorism trigger a severe public response. — Michael A. Reynolds and Thomas D. Grant, The Future of Europe and Its Muslims, 280

Categorization

• SHARE: A choice example for anyone who follows German security politics — the argument that a milder police state now prevents a harsher one later.
• APHORISMS: A genuinely dangerous piece of political logic — incremental coercion sold as prophylaxis against radical coercion.