William R. Mann
We have good cause to abhor the surveillance state - FT.com
By William R. Mann
Part I:
I don't give a fig about the fate of Snowden. He can rot in Russian hell or roll cigars in Nicaragua ... I don't care. Let him have his exile. He will pay ... believe me he will pay ... and it won't be from Holder Investigating and Prosecuting. He is forever a man without a country.
Part II:
I have often mentioned my first hand experiences with the STASI [East German State Security]. They were rotten SOBs... every one of them down to lowly guards. They knew what they were defending was rotten to the core. But to them, to be the spy is better than to be spied on, no matter that the highest Stasi watched the lowest, and the lowest the highest. The pay, security, health benefits, rations benefits, clubs, holidays ... all this was so much better a life than the common proletarian Kameraden had.
Watch the German Film called The Lives of Others. This is a very realistic portrayal of that STASI organization and their lifestyle versus that of their victims. In fact, I maintain that they were even more brutal and more humorless than portrayed in the film, and I think that the misery of the average East German is understated. I was there. I saw it frequently. It was my job.
Part III:
If you think for one moment that the various Intelligence and Security Agencies that collect information helping to prevent external attack has not also been turned internally [no matter the extent to which it is done] then: "Here's your flag!" The extent to which we are all reduced to files is not for our benefit, it is just in case we step out of line. I keep hearing idiotic comments like: "If you have done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear." The Tea Party is hounded by agencies and spied upon while criminal elements hound voting places and hooligans loot shops without fear. Who do you think the NSA, FBI, CIA, etc., has more information on? I leave that an open rhetorical question.
As for me, I think the American Model Republic died a long time ago... we live in something that might be considered and imperfect Democracy by plebiscite [and/or mob actions when Democracy and jury decisions are not to the liking of an ignorant mass population. The Public has been dumbed down by Liberals and Progressive Professors and teachers for 70 years. What we see today is the result: Party Elitists in Office that serve only their own interests or a narrow constituency of Unions and Interest Groups, a population that is disengaged intellectually, but engaged with visceral emotional reaction only. Folks we are ripe for the picking... can you imagine the delight of an enemy that defeats America and inherits theses data bases? It will greatly simplify their task of purging trouble-makers.
I am well aware of what part of my file looks like from my service. Who knows what is in there from my political activism and writing.
Be careful what you wish for in the name of security.
William R. Mann
Aut Pax Aut Bellum
"The wise are instructed by reason, average minds by experience, the stupid by necessity and the brute by instinct."
Marcus Tullius Cicero
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d9818d66-ed75-11e2-8d7c-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2ZKR41Zzp
© William R. Mann
July 19, 2013
Part I:
I don't give a fig about the fate of Snowden. He can rot in Russian hell or roll cigars in Nicaragua ... I don't care. Let him have his exile. He will pay ... believe me he will pay ... and it won't be from Holder Investigating and Prosecuting. He is forever a man without a country.
Part II:
I have often mentioned my first hand experiences with the STASI [East German State Security]. They were rotten SOBs... every one of them down to lowly guards. They knew what they were defending was rotten to the core. But to them, to be the spy is better than to be spied on, no matter that the highest Stasi watched the lowest, and the lowest the highest. The pay, security, health benefits, rations benefits, clubs, holidays ... all this was so much better a life than the common proletarian Kameraden had.
Watch the German Film called The Lives of Others. This is a very realistic portrayal of that STASI organization and their lifestyle versus that of their victims. In fact, I maintain that they were even more brutal and more humorless than portrayed in the film, and I think that the misery of the average East German is understated. I was there. I saw it frequently. It was my job.
Part III:
If you think for one moment that the various Intelligence and Security Agencies that collect information helping to prevent external attack has not also been turned internally [no matter the extent to which it is done] then: "Here's your flag!" The extent to which we are all reduced to files is not for our benefit, it is just in case we step out of line. I keep hearing idiotic comments like: "If you have done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear." The Tea Party is hounded by agencies and spied upon while criminal elements hound voting places and hooligans loot shops without fear. Who do you think the NSA, FBI, CIA, etc., has more information on? I leave that an open rhetorical question.
As for me, I think the American Model Republic died a long time ago... we live in something that might be considered and imperfect Democracy by plebiscite [and/or mob actions when Democracy and jury decisions are not to the liking of an ignorant mass population. The Public has been dumbed down by Liberals and Progressive Professors and teachers for 70 years. What we see today is the result: Party Elitists in Office that serve only their own interests or a narrow constituency of Unions and Interest Groups, a population that is disengaged intellectually, but engaged with visceral emotional reaction only. Folks we are ripe for the picking... can you imagine the delight of an enemy that defeats America and inherits theses data bases? It will greatly simplify their task of purging trouble-makers.
I am well aware of what part of my file looks like from my service. Who knows what is in there from my political activism and writing.
Be careful what you wish for in the name of security.
William R. Mann
Aut Pax Aut Bellum
"The wise are instructed by reason, average minds by experience, the stupid by necessity and the brute by instinct."
Marcus Tullius Cicero
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d9818d66-ed75-11e2-8d7c-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2ZKR41Zzp
© William R. Mann
The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)
