Civil Rights vs. Government Control

complicity - The state of being involved with others in an illegal activity or wrongdoing.

We have been cajoled and coerced into becoming dependent on a system that, externally to ourselves, has assumed control of our most personal information, and even more revealing, our intentions, a.k.a. our Modus Operandi. After a while it was easy, it was enticing, it was fun! But now, in our ignorance, in our indifference, we have become complicit in allowing for the virtual surrender of almost all of our basic civil rights to a government that can use or abuse this power to any extent it wishes.

Once upon a time, the computer gurus’ were to be our salvation. Over a period of about twenty years they worked tirelessly to iron out the kinks in a new, fast and economical information and communications system, the Internet. They were not only delivering software designed to be useful, but more importantly, to be “user friendly”. In point of fact, it was deemed safe enough for monetary transactions, including online banking! Passwords and user id’s were keys to the treasure chests of the Internet.

Now, not only can an “authorized” Internet network download and hold this information indefinitely, but it can, likewise, share it with whoever wants it, with or without our permission. This is commonly known as mining rights in the private sector and “person of interest” surveillance in terms of our government’s use. Privacy promises have always been questionable. Now, even IP addresses can be tagged and tracked.

Ok, but they made it safe! Right? It was all about reducing spammed emails and squashing deadly worms and viruses. How? They did it by creating programs which sorted the familiar from the unknown. Most of us eagerly sorted through our own questionable mail, thus further aiding in the effort. Similarly, we saved our “favorite” web addresses. These are now being fed into algorithms which push commercial websites on us through so-called “personalized” search engine systems. These search engines go back to previously viewed web addresses, having saved our previous search histories. This will occur even if you clear your personal computer on a regular basis.

By 2005, huge servers began to track our most significant contacts, storing them for OUR personal use. We participated by saving our favorites list, our contact lists, our friends lists, etc., etc.. Money and merchandise brought scams and Identity Theft. We persevered, like chickens pecking the big red button for one more kernel of corn. In fact, we probably saved the government billions of dollars by participating in the greatest interactive social experiment since the advent of television. Slowly, we began to trust in the system, to lay out our lives for the world to see. But was this our true intention?

The social networks, curse or blessing, plowshare or sword, it all depends on who has access and what they can gain by compiling your recorded insights. Do you really know who your friends are? Our government sure seems interested. Our daily activities can now be followed, in detail. You can almost bet that it won’t be long before “silence” becomes a suspicious activity.

We are being spied upon by our own government! And yet… You have to admit that we are a paranoid lot, by and large. We don’t mind the cameras in the parking lots, around the ATM machines, at intersections, and so forth. Most business calls are recorded for “training purposes”, so what?

I must say, this is not the same country that it was in the nineteen fifties. Nor should it be. Far too much has changed for that to even be conceivable. But the national policies currently in vogue now can only lead to repression. Back then this would have been considered another “communist plot” and shot down with bazookas!

Fascism, even feudalism is in the air. The idea of us needing a Homeland Security agency is nothing short of justifying the need for a police state. The Patriot Act is a pretext for subverting the constitution regarding our rights to freedom of speech, to freedom of assembly, to civil liberties, to personal privacy, and the right to a jury of our peers, among many others.

So, who’s in charge now? Is it those who govern or those who select the representatives of that government? What are we getting and what are we giving up? And who is really being served by these secretive policies? Is it the rich and powerful or the average Jane and Joe on the street? It is a brave new world in which we live, and yes, Big Brother is watching you!