Tag: society Page 2 of 3

You would not be reading this right now if you were truly concerned about your privacy.
I would suggest anyone who uses the Internet daily is not really concerned about their privacy, either.
We unwittingly forfeited any expectations of privacy when we collectively assumed life in front of our LCD and LED screens of varying shapes, forms and sizes.
“If you do not have anything to hide, you have nothing to worry about.”
Well, that remains among the most discouraging and disturbing comments ever made.
Besides suffering from a dearth of critical thinking, Americans have become naive, passive and have given carte blanche to our governing bodies when it comes to control over our lives.
We entrust our governing bodies to keep our lives together–literally. After all, life in front of our screens is pretty busy and we need someone to look out for us. What other justification might we have for allowing the continued erosion of our civil liberties and personal freedoms?
That would explain the mindset, at least partially, of someone who permits their life to be an open book to strangers. When strangers are your governing bodies, the leap of faith required to trust no mistakes ever are made in an investigation of would be improprieties (once they have acquired all manner of data), is far too great.
Any of us can be falsely accused of a crime or trespass we did not commit.
DNA has exonerated dozens of people convicted unjustly of crimes they did not commit.

I would not want to have to rely on something like DNA evidence after the fact; that is, once convicted and put away, a prisoner hopes some sort of appeals process leads to DNA evidence freeing them.
Why would anyone want to be monitored and placed under constant surveillance? Furthermore, why would anyone grant permission to have their personal information gone over with a figurative fine toothed comb?
Would it be so we can be kept safe from foreign threats or just threats that we may not even be fully aware of or understand, but the pretentiously superior intellects north of us do?
Why stop at allowing our personal information to be pilfered like a hobo working over a dumpster? Why not just allow authorities to search our dwellings in the name of keeping us safe? I know, I know. I should not give anyone any ideas.
There is an old adage that if a thief (or anyone for that matter) wants something of yours bad enough, they will find a way to get it. No matter the security systems in place on your property, no matter the vicious dogs you may have on premise, if you have something that somebody wants, they will find a way to get it. This is as true as the sun will shine tomorrow.
When our governing authorities, who possess resources that boggle the mind, are interested in something we have, we are hard pressed to keep them from getting it. To put it less kindly, we simply find it easier to roll over and let what is going to happen to us be done. “Just get it over,” we say, “and we will be on our way. Surely, you won’t find anything illegal or amiss.” We will get our lives back once we give them what they want, we incorrectly feel.

The problem with giving a bully what they want in the name of them leaving you alone is that once you do that, they inadvertently want something more from you.
Give ’em an inch, they’ll take a mile
I’m not a conspiracy theorist. I know some things that happen do not make sense. There are not always logical reasons for events transpiring the way they do. When something does not smell right in the beginning, it will not smell right six months later, however. Point is, we need to hold our governing bodies accountable (even as they try to do the same with you and I), and call them on things that just do not sit right with us.
People are starting to do that again. If nothing else, re-opening dialogues on subjects is never a bad thing. Everyone takes some form of crap during their lives. What many of us need to learn is that we do not have to take unfair crap. Make your voice heard. Talk to your friends, your family and your representatives.
When utilized properly, our words can illustrate our intentions for better and fair treatment. Engaging in open, constructive dialogue lets our governing bodies better understand how we want to be legislated. Redirecting our trust back to ourselves and each other will go a long way towards doing the right thing going forward as a society, too.