The Eyes of A (Big) Brother
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg tells residents to get used to surveillance--it's part of life in this, our new and dangerous world.
As justification, he reminds us that London's Ken Livingstone has the "Ring of Steel" surveillance system which works so well, and that the people like it so well that Ken would be "run out of town on a rail" if he didn't have it.
On the marble wall in the entrance of the building I work in are inscribed several quotes as they relate to freedom. My favorite is the one from Ben Franklin:
"Those who would trade security for freedom deserve neither."
Perfectly stated. People don't realize that when they begin surrendering their privacy and freedom to authorities, those authorities begin making boiler-plate decisions for everyone and the individual--the bedrock that the spirit of the law of our land was based on--disappears. But of course, in this day of easy microwave meals and instant gratification, everybody wants the fast and easy fix to everything, and that includes their security. They've eased and convenienced themselves (and the rest of us) into a police state that we'll never be rid of. But the spin doctors for the establishment will make it sound like a good thing, and probably write a humorous commercial come election time. They may even use Ben Franklin's picture at the end, discrediting his words with a cute, flippant caption:
"Remember: He suffered from electric shock."
You were right, Ben: we deserve neither.
As justification, he reminds us that London's Ken Livingstone has the "Ring of Steel" surveillance system which works so well, and that the people like it so well that Ken would be "run out of town on a rail" if he didn't have it.
On the marble wall in the entrance of the building I work in are inscribed several quotes as they relate to freedom. My favorite is the one from Ben Franklin:
"Those who would trade security for freedom deserve neither."
Perfectly stated. People don't realize that when they begin surrendering their privacy and freedom to authorities, those authorities begin making boiler-plate decisions for everyone and the individual--the bedrock that the spirit of the law of our land was based on--disappears. But of course, in this day of easy microwave meals and instant gratification, everybody wants the fast and easy fix to everything, and that includes their security. They've eased and convenienced themselves (and the rest of us) into a police state that we'll never be rid of. But the spin doctors for the establishment will make it sound like a good thing, and probably write a humorous commercial come election time. They may even use Ben Franklin's picture at the end, discrediting his words with a cute, flippant caption:
"Remember: He suffered from electric shock."
You were right, Ben: we deserve neither.
posted by Aaron at 11:58 AM
2 Comments:
A simple thing like seat belt use has helped to chisel away at our freedom. Adults are now required to wear seat belts for their own good. Soon they will be required to give up their guns for their own good and tolerate islam for their own good and give up our nationality for our own good. I like the Ben Franklin quote and wish to add Lincoln: Government for the people and by the people shall not perish from the earth.
Ooohhh. That was deep.
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