Starting sometime after the end of World War II in 1945,
when, at its political and economic apex, the country began a slow but
determined transition from a republic into what it is now, a neo-fascist corporatocracy
under the direction of an extremely wealthy and powerful oligarchy as President
Eisenhower warned us in his farewell address (President John Kennedy would later
echo the same warning).
Some have likened this to the feudalism of Middle Ages Europe.
If you think of global corporations as modern versions of feudalistic fiefdoms
it makes sense. Like their feudalistic predecessors, who quietly influenced rulers, modern corporations
exercise a similar control over today’s governments. To be successful requires a
strong surveillance apparatus and ability to manipulate the public.
Most surveillance states use a myriad of excuses to acquire their
power. But most often it centers on “public safety”. During the early years of
the French Revolution in the 1780’s, Robespierre headed the Committee of Public
Safety which he used as a steppingstone to the governing National Convention
(eventually becoming its President).
It official purpose was to undercover those hostile to the
revolution and its stated goals of “Liberty,
Equality, and Fraternity”, the creation a constitutional republic, ending
absolutism and the class system, or establishing equality under the law along
with individual rights.
Just weeks after Adolf Hitler assumed power in January 1933, the German Reichstag (or “Parliament”) mysteriously caught fired and burned to the ground. Many suspected the Nazis of being behind the blaze, but there’s never been any hard proof. A mentally impaired Dutch communist, Marius van der Lubbe, wondering around the smoldering ruins. He was arrested, tried and convicted. He was executed by guillotine on January 24, 1934. Both sides alleged a "false flag" attack.
Nevertheless, not ones to let a manufactured crisis go to waste, the Nazis used the occasion of the fire to request and obtain approval to implement the “Enabling Act” or as it was officially known, the “Law to Remedy the Distress of the People and the Reich”, on March 23, 1933.
The Enabling Act served as the beginning of quick end to the
Weimar Republic and with it, democracy in Germany. Of course, it was passed in
the name of national security (after all, the symbol of German democracy, the
Reichstag, had just been attacked). Like another similar act passed 68 years
later, few knew exactly what was in it. But, among other things, it
allowed for emergency laws to be implemented without the review or consent of
the Reichstag (Article 48).
Ultimately, all opposition political parties and newspapers
were banned. A nationalized security apparatus and secret courts were established,
and it granted the Chancellor dictatorial powers which could be renewed every
four years (with the death of President Paul von Hindenburg, the offices of
Chancellor and President were merged into one. The new office was that of “Fuhrer und Reichskanzler”
or simply “ Office of the Fuhrer”).
In 2001, Congress enacted the “Patriot Act”, following the
cowardly attacks of 9/11. Interestingly, the Patriot Act bore many similarities
to the Enabling Act. For instance, the creation of a national security office (“The
Office of Homeland Security”), it authorized warrantless widespread “spying” on
U.S. citizens via existing intelligence agencies (including keeping secret
files), the creation of the secret courts (aka “FISA” courts).
Of course, none of this is new historically. At its peak, during the reign of Roman Emperor Hadrian, it was said that a young naked virgin could walk the length of the Appian Way at midnight without fear of being accosted. Why? Because every ten or so feet stood an armed Roman soldier. As an aside, in 49 BC Julius Caesar used the claims of "public safety" and "order" to have himself declared dictator as did the Roman General, Sulla, earlier in 82 BC.
It was also because there were curfews imposed and
restrictions on possessing weapons and punishment of crimes were severe in the
extreme. The ancient Romans understood that people will often sacrifice their
freedoms for security just as they understood that businesses required order
and stability to function, which benefited the state. To me, this begs the
question of whether such actions as the Patriot Act, stripped of their
nationalism, was more for the benefit of state and big business than the
security of ordinary citizen.
Today, we find the internet remains stifled with de facto
censorship hidden behind cute euphemisms like “community standards” (which has
often left me asking “who monitors the monitors?” and “why are certain comments
censored and not others?”).
Governments and corporations are pushing for increased measures not just to track us, but also to monitor our financial transactions. Ideally, they would like to do away with currency and reduced all transactions to a series an electronic blips. Not only would a company be instantly paid (great for the bottom line), but big business and the government (which are increasingly becoming one in the same) can constantly monitor how much money you have, where it came from, what you spent it on, where you’ve been or what sites you’ve visited.
Is that because they are so comfortable with technology,
having literally grown up with it? Possibly. Gen X, Babyboomers, and older
generations seem to place a greater value on privacy. We’re more likely to
protect certain information and who we share it with. We seem to place more importance
on our “space”, be it physical or cyber. But then, we’re on the decline while Millennials and Gen Z
are ascending politically and economically.
For corporations and the government, ever in search of more data, this is portrayed as a boon. Given this level of access, companies can now “cater” to individualistic buying habits, thus improving their bottom line while the government can more easily calculate exactly what you owe in taxes and then automatically deduct it from your bank account.
Even your health will be monetized. Imagine coming into the world and the first two things you received are a social security number and a genetic health test in order to determine what markers you’ve inherited and to predict your health cost to employers or society. This health information will be traded between your bank, employer, insurance companies, and even the government to determine an overall health risk score. The lower the score, the lower premiums and taxes you'll pay and the more desirable you are to employers. I'm sure you will be able to buy temporary "high risk riders" for occasional wild and wooly weekend or for vacation.
Examples would be like, do you enjoy high risk activities like bungee jumping or motorcycle racing? They’ll rate it on your high risk rider, and you’ll pay higher premiums for it. For those who do it often or professionally, the rider will be permanent. Let's say you require a special diet for a health issue. But try to buy something not on the recommended list and see it declined on your debit card (as well as notated in your health record for not following their guidelines).
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In our fast approaching cashless society, I can even envision the day where credit card
companies, retailers, and public utilities will automatically deduct as pre-determined
amount from your bank account before you even see it. You’ll get a brief text
message alerting you of how much “net money” you have available to live on.
Your friendly taxman or woman will notify you and your bank by
text the first of the year advising of
how much was deducted from your account based your income (as reported by your
employer) and your personal information on file. Thinking about deductions? Anything that can’t
be electronically verified will be disallowed. There’ll be no more “estimated
values”.
Crime rates are often cited as the reason for more cameras on
street corners while infrared camera drones are becoming more commonplace. As of
2021, there were 71 million public surveillance cameras in use, an increase of
21% from 2018. Businesses increasingly
use bio-matrix programs to analyze nearly everyone walking in or by the
business. It’s not uncommon for private residents to have surveillance cameras
to deter would-be criminals.
In the sleepy backwater city of Louisville Kentucky for instance,
there are 141 “Flock” cameras being used to read license plate numbers of
suspected stolen cars (carjackings are a serious problem and growing) as well other
vehicle infractions such as speeding, parking issues, or paying tolls. Another 139 Flock cameras are expected to be
added over the next few months. Louisville Metro Police access the camera’s
database an estimated 18,000 per month!
Wall Street and Washington have a symbiotic relationship
already based on the control and consumption of resources, including data. In
fact, as we’ve often discussed, there’s abundant research to confirm our former
Republic is now a corporatocracy, functioning under the auspices of a tightknit
superrich oligarchy (some prefer to call it a kleptocracy or plutocracy, which
is just as accurate).
These are issues which may sound as if they belong in the realm
of science fiction or won’t arise until sometime in the distant future. The reality
of the matter is that these are issues which exists in the here and now thanks
to the technology’s exponential advancements and our failure as a society to
come to grasp the legal ramifications, let alone the moral implications.
At what point does personal privacy end? How far will we accept so-called “national security "interests into our lives? When does technology stop being a convenience and becomes our master? Specifically,
at what point are corporations or the government entitled to access of our
personal information without our consent or is allowed to use it in making
decisions about (or for) us?
As I said earlier, they will always have an excuse. Soon they may not need one. From my
perspective, this is simply a new form of serfdom. It reminds me of a quote from Russian author, Fydor Dostoevsky, "The best way to keep a prisoner from escaping is to make sure he never knows he is in prison". To preserve our humanity, we
should always be in control of our personal information regardless of whether
we wish to protect it, sell it, or trade it without fear of retribution or coercion.
Thank you for reading
"Another Opinion", the Op/Ed blog page for the "militant
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along. Below you will find links to the sources we used in writing this
article. Thank you.
How the Covid-19 Pandemic Reveals American Corporate Feudalism
How the Patriot Act Compare’s to Hitler’s Enabling Act
Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Farewell Address
Louisville to install more than 100 additional Flock camerasto enhance public safety
The Private Life of Generation Z
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