Government Should Not Be Relied Upon: Your Privacy, Possessions, and Liberties Are at Risk
In the heart of the 21st century, concerns about government practices continue to surface, with citizens questioning the balance between security and individual rights. Over the past seven decades, the United States has witnessed numerous changes in the definition of the debt limit, extended its national debt to an staggering $35 trillion, and faced a decline in public trust.
Surveillance
One of the most contentious issues is the government's engagement in mass surveillance programs. Since the Snowden revelations in 2013, it has been exposed that agencies like the NSA have harvested phone metadata, emails, and online activity via programs such as PRISM. More recent surveillance extends into medical records, social security, and financial data using advanced data aggregation and AI, raising serious privacy concerns.
Property Seizures
Another area of contention is the practice of civil asset forfeiture, which allows law enforcement to seize property without criminal convictions, effectively undermining due process rights. This practice disproportionately affects marginalized communities and often lacks sufficient judicial oversight.
Fiscal Irresponsibility
Large government spending bills, such as the "Big Beautiful Bill," allocate tens of billions to border security infrastructure, technology, and personnel hiring. Critics question the prioritization and long-term effectiveness of these expenditures, which include billions dedicated to border wall construction and new surveillance technologies.
Health Experimentation
Historically, controversial government-driven health experimentation, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, has raised ethical concerns. However, direct contemporary evidence on large-scale government health experiments on citizens is currently lacking in available sources.
Excessive Use of Police Force
Widespread concerns about excessive police force persist, with reports of disproportionate use of force, especially in minority communities, continuing to raise civil rights alarms.
Reclaiming Local Democracy
In light of these concerns, it is crucial to reclaim local democracy as a means of making state and federal democracy function effectively. Understanding one's rights and the local government structure is essential, including knowing who serves on city council, school boards, and runs local jails. The community should have recourse to voice concerns about local problems or disagree with decisions by government officials.
The Role of Local Media
Local media plays a vital role in reporting on local events. It's important to know who runs it and to support independent, truthful journalism.
Protecting Citizen Rights
In an era where privacy and anonymity are under threat, it's essential to be vigilant and informed. Don't trust the government with your privacy, digital or otherwise. Building strong, informed communities is key to securing one's base and protecting citizen rights.
The Path Forward
The article in The Federalist suggests thinking nationally but acting locally. Americans can still topple the perceived police state tyrants by reforming the system from the bottom up. By getting to know neighbors, the community, and local officials, we can create a strong foundation for change. Together, we can work towards a democracy that truly represents and protects its citizens.
- The government's engagement in mass surveillance programs, as revealed in the PRISM program, raises concerns about privacy, as it involves harvesting phone metadata, emails, and online activity, and now extended to medical records, social security, and financial data using advanced data aggregation and AI.
- Civil asset forfeiture, a practice that allows law enforcement to seize property without criminal convictions, undermines due process rights and disproportionately affects marginalized communities.
- Critics question the prioritization and long-term effectiveness of large government spending bills, such as the "Big Beautiful Bill," which allocate tens of billions to border security, including billions dedicated to border wall construction and new surveillance technologies.
- In light of these concerns, it's essential to understand the local government structure, who serves on city council, school boards, and runs local jails, and to support independent, truthful journalism in the local media to voice concerns and create a strong foundation for change towards a democracy that truly represents and protects its citizens.
