TIA speculation
Upon reading the ACLU’s technology and privacy report, ”Bigger Monster, Weaker Chains: The Growth of an American Surveillance Society,” I couldn’t help but make the following observations.
Why Us?
Perhaps I am just dense, but I have yet to understand why anti-terrorism measures like the ones the proposed in this report are directed at American citizens in the first place. Why does the government feel that it needs greater surveillance powers over us?
If it’s gonna happen, do it right for a change!
Many of the things included in this report will probably come about; I think that’s inevitable. The important thing is that the government implement these things sensibly, with adequate checks and balances to prevent the abuse of authority (something noticeably absent in the Bush administration’s view of government: “Trust us, we’re your leaders! We would never do anything bad.")
If these things are going to be done in the name of making the country a safer place, there needs to be more light and less heat coming from Congress. The issue should not be politicized for the benefit of one party’s election strategy. It should not be wrapped in terms of false patriotism. It should be discussed with all the care and deliberation that went into the crafting of the Constitution itself. Anything less should be considered a treasonous offense!
Wouldn’t this be a big setback for modern civilization?
Once people began to realize exactly how closely their every transaction was being watched, I bet a lot of people would start using cash—or even barter!—to prevent their day-to-day activities from being held against them someday. Isn’t that exactly the opposite of where we would like society to go?
