What Happened to my Freedom?

[Coyote]

So here I was, minding my own business (least wise I thought I was) only to find I have an unwanted helper. I got my Social Security tax statement today from the lovely IRS. This statement tells me how much I got and how much I owe taxes on. Fine and dandy (or so I think). Then I look on the back at the fine print. There is this new thing (law has been passed) called computer matching. Believe me this is no dating service.
What it DOES mean is these computers can tell what you are doing - 24/7. They can tell where you are, what you are doing, how much you are spending and what you are spending it on. They can also monitor you to see if you are in fact entitled to the benefits you are currently receiving. The finer print says even if you are opposed to this privacy invasion, it don't matter. It's the law.
Now folks, this is Big Brother if I ever saw it. It doesn't concern me all that much as I will probably die soon anyway. But what about our children and their children? It looks like soon, no one will have a name - just a number. Say, did you hear 10776 married 20794?
This is not computer matching as it's called. It's computer monitoring. Can't remember what you had for dinner last night? No problem. They can tell you. I knew one day computers would turn around and bite us in the ass. And here it is.
I could rant about this for hours, but I think you all know what I'm saying. Big Brother is watching YOU.
Looking back to my Hippie days in the 60's, Timothy Leary WAS right. Turn on, tune in, drop out.

[tz375]

And it's not just the government. Credit card processing companies sell all your data to anyone that wants it. They can tell what you bought and where you bought it.

On the internet, try to do a search for something - say cameras, and watch how the ads on web pages you visit include cameras. They are selling that advertising in real time as you search. They know where you are and where you have been.

I don't recall hearing about the Government using the technology for Social Security though. Taxes for SS are capped, so that makes no sense and payments are based entirely on pay in and not on income levels. So it makes no sense to me - as well as being incredibly intrusive.

[TLRam1]

Watch this video.

http://goldsilver.com/video/smart-meters/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[diablo]

could not agree with you more. no longer be should be no longer is. god help us all 1984 is upon us

[titan performance]

Smart meter eh? Stick a couple of powerful magnets to it and see how smart it is then.....

[alanr]

If the computers are watching me they will soon get bored and turn themselves off.