"but we haven't become like 'the rest of the world.'"
Only in degree, at best. Else how do you explain all the assaults on the Second Amendment (VERY few countries have such a specific guarantee --NOT GRANTING-- of the natural right to self-protection); the Fourth Amendment (search and siezure-all the no-warrant, no-knock, kick down the door raids for NO legitimate/constitutional rationale); the Fifth Amendment (the eminent domain part, Kelo, et al) and total violation/ignoring of both the Ninth and Tenth Amendments? About the only specific "Thou shalt not" NOT violated is the Third Amendment (and with all the video surveillence cameras in use now, there's no "NEED" to quarter troops in every home... we're all now on Candid Camera, everywhere).
The Second Amendment Issue is tricky. I've been thinking about it alot lately and have only snippets of thoughts, ideas so far.
The videotaping etc. is not as clear cut as you may think, since many of the cameras are privately owned/operated. The camera at your local ATM, for instance.
A very smart person once said to me, years ago, that cable television transformed America. Now, the internet is doing the same thing.