Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Paranoia Politics in the US
Following the Echelon project, and stories about the NSA monitoring international calls, you might expect that the US to technology achievements in the area of how to infringe personal integrity eventually would come to a halt. But the latest software development rather makes me feel that the US is stuck in a downward spiral of paranoia. Big Brother really is listening in. In brief: The Department of Homeland Security has financed a software program that detects political opinions about the US in foreign newspapers and other international publications on the net.
In this latest form, I don't necessarily find it the US measurements to be as appalling as, say to have secret agents eavesdropping on citizens' private phone calls. However, it shows a distinct form of paranoia in the way the measurements are carried out. It is one thing to have people with paranoia locked up in spy programs where such personalities may be highly valued. But when this mental state becomes synonymous with government policies and sponsored programs towards ordinary citizens it is time for someone to set a stop. When will Americans start to realize that the words of Thomas Jefferson are as true today as when he said them?
In this latest form, I don't necessarily find it the US measurements to be as appalling as, say to have secret agents eavesdropping on citizens' private phone calls. However, it shows a distinct form of paranoia in the way the measurements are carried out. It is one thing to have people with paranoia locked up in spy programs where such personalities may be highly valued. But when this mental state becomes synonymous with government policies and sponsored programs towards ordinary citizens it is time for someone to set a stop. When will Americans start to realize that the words of Thomas Jefferson are as true today as when he said them?
"A society that will trade a little Liberty for a little order will lose both, and deserve neither."
Thomas Jefferson
