Big Brother
Tiredtraveler
Solo PL
Big Brother is Watching.
Do you want black boxes in your vehicle tracking your every movement or use of traffic cameras to do the same. LE is now using traffic cameras to track your movements via your license plate and computer software to identify your vehicle as it passes those cameras. This technology was used to track the Boston bomber and has been used in NYC to track suspected criminals/terrorists as well as other people just in the wrong place.
A Southern California M.A.D. town council member proposed that this system be used to stop, detain and test any/all drivers who stopped at a tavern, bar, or liquor store on suspicion of DUI and use the cameras as evidence in court whether you had drank alcohol or not to prove dangerous behavior. She also proposed a 0.00 limit when the state has a 0.08 limit.
The problem I have is many cop are willing to go along with this travesty. I have met federal ATF agents in my life and I was in fear of my life while in their presence. They all struck me as criminals hiding behind a badge. I have friends that have been trained as Seals and Rangers and I never felt unsafe around them. In fact a Ranger/FBI agent told me that I would be shocked as to the number of crimes committed by federal agents with the full knowledge/blind eye of their superiors. He claimed crimes were done mostly by ATF, DEA, and IRS and the FBI investigations were either blocked by upper level officials or powerful politicos of either party.
Do you want some faceless bureaucrat building an electronic dossier on you to be used at their whim to force you to withdraw a complaint.
Playing devils advocate to see how y'all react.
Do you want black boxes in your vehicle tracking your every movement or use of traffic cameras to do the same. LE is now using traffic cameras to track your movements via your license plate and computer software to identify your vehicle as it passes those cameras. This technology was used to track the Boston bomber and has been used in NYC to track suspected criminals/terrorists as well as other people just in the wrong place.
A Southern California M.A.D. town council member proposed that this system be used to stop, detain and test any/all drivers who stopped at a tavern, bar, or liquor store on suspicion of DUI and use the cameras as evidence in court whether you had drank alcohol or not to prove dangerous behavior. She also proposed a 0.00 limit when the state has a 0.08 limit.
The problem I have is many cop are willing to go along with this travesty. I have met federal ATF agents in my life and I was in fear of my life while in their presence. They all struck me as criminals hiding behind a badge. I have friends that have been trained as Seals and Rangers and I never felt unsafe around them. In fact a Ranger/FBI agent told me that I would be shocked as to the number of crimes committed by federal agents with the full knowledge/blind eye of their superiors. He claimed crimes were done mostly by ATF, DEA, and IRS and the FBI investigations were either blocked by upper level officials or powerful politicos of either party.
Do you want some faceless bureaucrat building an electronic dossier on you to be used at their whim to force you to withdraw a complaint.
Playing devils advocate to see how y'all react.
45 comments
The cops
Much information we have to provide for such things as income tax, drivers license, and credit cards. Other information we voluntarily put on Facebook and other internet sites.
I don't think our current government is trying to target me or enslave me. The NSA doesn't care about me. But in the future there may be less benign governments and corporations that could use all this information to control us completely.
Personally, I think there is a revolution brewing in this country. Alatard best watch out!
The biggest form of government is communism; how has that worked out?
Those that say they are not worried - well probably neither was most of Eastern Europe in the mid 20th century.
The bigger the government; the bigger the bad consequences from it (e.g. police state; major corruption; exponential inefficiency; etc.).
I'm pretty sure they were all quite worried.
If you let the government supply all your needs (including healthcare) they are going to control your life.
Look at England and Europe- cameras everywhere. Laws about everything.
Grow up. Support yourself. Take care of your own business, don't expect other people to pay your way.
Don't vote for socialists.
Too bad for you considering your feelings about democratic government.
I think they used to do that in the early days of the Florida Turnpike, but no more. One trick people used to do to save some bucks was to exchange tickets with someone at the service plazas going in the opposite direction. One could save quite a few $'s that way.
Aliens have been watching us for millions of years.
I thought we weren't suppose to talk about that among the earthlings.
Tiredtraveler seems to think so.
Wireline phones are infinitely more secure than any wireless phone.
Snail mail beats e-mail all to hell for security.
Cash beats cards as payment method.
Barter and hand shake deals in business are clean and leave no paper trail.
For wireless communication Blackberry is still trusted by POTUS.....me too.
Just a few examples....1984 is long in the past.....and 2084 is years ahead of us.
I prefer cash transactions. I often turn off my non-smart phone and I have disabled the GPS. But I know that there is no way to live among people and be "off the grid." Big Brother is watching.
On the other hand, Big Brother may be watching - but if the US roll-out of Obamacare is any example, Big Brother is fumbling and incompetent! And I do believe, at least the US federal, big government is incapable of getting anything right. I am more at risk from the Feds raiding my house because some dufus screwed up the address of a drug dealer in another state than I am from any intentional act by my government!
I must bring to your attention a big caveat to the bleak scenario that you portray. You are talking about urban areas of North America. Granted, that is where probably 85% of North America's population resides. However, those of us who live in rural areas or who operate businesses in isolated areas of the world are largely immune to the intrusions that you cite.
The simple fact of the isolation of the farm where I live and of the isolation of the areas where I operate my business grants me a level of security not available to urbanites. I didn't do this consciously; it is just a function of the way my life has evolved. Satellites and drones exist, of course, but they are not as ubiquitous as are CCT cameras in urban areas.
I have no fear of the technological intrusions that you posit.