Re: RE: Big Brother Is Your Friend

From xdaydreamx@gmx.net
Date Mon, 20 Sep 1999 23:03:04 +0200 (MEST)
References <XFMail.990920161652.markjr@privateworld.com>


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First Question: Do you believe that, with the current state of affairs,
this ideal future you and Brin forsee could ever come about? 
This world is a messed up place with power CONCENTRATING in the hands of
the few rather that dispersing into those of the many. That's why it made me
want to puke when I read that quote from Brin's speech: "And in all of human
history, no people have ever been anywhere near as free." What people is he
talking about? Those living in the U$A?! He must be joking. The people who
enjoy the highest crime rate in the western world? Who have the worst
industrial relations in a developed country? Who are so constrained by what to buy
and from whom, that they have replaced Jesus Christ with Santa Claus and
think that Milk comes from Supermarkets (as opposed to Cows) and Hamburgers
grow on fields (www.mcspotlight.org). And what kind of freedom is he talking
about? The freedom to buy and sell? Or could freedom also encompass the
freedom not to want to buy? Not to want to be targetted by advertising? Not to
want to send a child to a corporate sponsored school. It's all very well being
able to zoom in on everything at any time if we are all happy, truly-free
people. But I seriously doubt that surveillance equipment will do that for
us. And besides, if we were all so free and balanced individuals there would
be no NEED for surveillance.

Second Question: Is there any chance that "the public" will be able to do
the same to their employers, politicians etc. as they do to us? I can't see
trade unions managing to get THAT through. And which politician is going to
pass a law that would allow him/her to be monitored 24hrs a day? As you
said, we want privacy for ourselves and observation for others. 

jjf

P.S.: The statement in the article that the crime rate in Britain is very
low is a bit flat. Compared to what? And for which reasons? Because of
cameras? We should take a close look at the kind of people who make such claims.

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