> (...) until there is solid evidence that it won't work.
Why should we need evidence that such an Orwellian program will work? Of course it will work. It will work - for those in power - against the people.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sockpuppet_%28Internet%29 [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Earnest_Voice
"the people involved" -> pro government city council members and police administrators. Those are the people with the purse strings, and money is what ultimately makes something like this happen.
They will be looking at this as an opportunity to 'positively involve citizens' in security efforts, without paying any mind to the likelihood that they will get ~100% noise and ~0% actionable information.
edit: swapped in 'likelihood' for 'fact'