It would seem that the notion of privacy is becoming rather a rare concept these days. The news sites are filled with stories of government monitoring, spying, tracking phone calls, online activity, even analyzing credit card purchases. Virtually all public places in urban areas are monitored with surveillance cameras. Indeed, everywhere you go, nothing is private. The world has become a complex place during the past twenty years in particular. Governments are expected to keep its citizens safe, yet without the surveillance tools, it becomes quite difficult. Mind you, it is ironic that while the previous US Administration was in office, there were cries from the left about the republicans usurping freedoms, excessive monitoring, etc, and yet under the current US Administration they have authorized the widest expansion of surveillance and monitoring of private citizens in the history of our great nation. Amazingly, a swath of the political population remains quiet about it. But I digress. This is actually not intended to be a political post.
The key to keeping your privacy is to simply choose how you consume things. First off, move to the rural countryside and work off the land. Second, don't use the internet. Go back to subscribing to a paper newspaper delivered by a paperboy. Third, don't make any phone calls. Fourth, pay cash for everything. Don't use a bank or investment account, just stuff the mattress with cash. With these simple choices, you can "go off the grid" and have all the privacy you desire.
So you see life is all about choices.
Now if you want to enjoy the rights and privileges of most citizens of the western world, you will need to understand that there is no privacy.
There is one very important and final thought I wish to convey. Even if you are being monitored, as long as you have nothing to hide, then there is nothing to worry about. People who do bad things need to worry. People who don't, don't.
But Wait! There is one other option...
As I mentioned, life IS all about choices. Choose your path wisely. Have faith in God. Live life as a good person, be nice, help others. Avoid temptation. Sound like old fashioned values? Not to me. You can have all the privacy you desire, just stay out of trouble and be a good person. None of the government agencies and law enforcement officials are interested in people just doing good deeds. You will be swimming in privacy, as long as you have nothing to hide.
I concur!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing some very good, appropriate words on this topic. And something else too that I think will come of all of this latest hullabalu, is how much do you wanna bet that those who cry the loudest and longest about an invasion of their privacy, so they say, are also the ones who would scream bloody murder too if there were something to happen -like a terrorist attack, or something akin to that, if there were not any of these checkpoints in place. Maybe, maybe not, but that's my take on those who think this is such a terrible ordeal for all of us to have to endure when, in essence, if you aren't doing anything wrong, what is there to worry about then?
ReplyDeleteOf course, as a result of all this NSA monitoring electronic missives, perhaps the art of letter writing will see a resurgence? One could dream.......
ReplyDelete