The Era of Big Brother

So last week news hit that the NSA is secretly spying on American citizens via Google, Facebook, Yahoo, Mircosoft and Apple. People have been outraged by this fact coming to light. But why is this news to anyone? There was this thing called the "Patriot Act" that basicly gave the government the freedom to listen in to all of our private phone calls. W signed it in secret and when we all discovered what he was up to we got the "it's for your own protection" line. There was nothing we could do because he violated many laws governing our right to privacy to "protect" us. So, even though people gripe about it still, most of us just live with it.

I started to monitor my own online "language" and subject matter that I discuss after 9/11. Once I realized that the government put out a hit list on the songs the radio was allowed to play I knew it was only a matter of time before my own words would be monitored and maybe even sensored. Then a list was released...the list was of words that you should not say or text or type online...they would be red flagged and subject to government "inspection". Over the last 12 years the government has moved more and more into our "private and personal" lives in order to protect us from the terrorists. As sad as these facts are...there's nothing to be done about them...unless you decide to go off the grid and never use a phone or the computer again. Also, if you have a camera on any device hooked to the internet, assume that the government can turn it on when they want and peered into your home.

I wasn't surprised by the "revelations" that the NSA is spying on us or that the President knew about it. I'm not surprised that it's been justified as a necessary step in protecting the country or that no apologies will be given. What I am surprised by is people's outrage and naivete about the subject. In an age where most people give away WAY to much info on the internet it's very surprising that anyone would be upset by the NSA reading your stupid facebook updates or twitter rants. Or even your stupid blog posts about the government reading your blog posts!

Oh and another thing...if you think this started after 9/11 I'd like to direct you to this place called the FBI and it's former head J. Edgar who, if I'm not mistaken, had pretty much the entire country wiretapped before he died.

Well, that's all for me...

Until Next Time!

~m