Clark on government surveillance

In the flurry of info coming out about NSA spying, who knows what is fact and what is not? The only thing we know for certain is that data mining is very sophisticated today.

Initial reports suggest things being tracked include every cell phone call, where you’re located, who you talk to, how long you’re talking, and more.

The issue of privacy is a key cornerstone of the survivalist movement. That’s why survivalists do things like pay only cash and try to stay off the grid. On the other side of the debate about privacy, you have people who are like, “I’m not doing anything to be worried about anyway. Who cares if they track me?”

There are people who look at government with such distrust and hate that they see evil as the cornerstone of this. The U.S. has long engaged in various domestic and foreign spying in response to threats. On reflection, those acts of spying look pretty bad at times.

In the ’60s, the domestic agencies spied on the hippies. That seems so quaint and ridiculous now. But at the time, the powers that be thought it essential.

Today, the devices we use are so personally identifiable. We’re being watched every which way, mostly for commercial purposes. But what does it all mean? You collect all this data and then what do you do with it?

There are threats today from those who wish to destroy us. In the wake of 9/11, laws were passed that gave the government a great deal of leeway for surveillance of Americans.

The technology we use and carry with us creates a digital signature. We’re tracked every way. Just know technology has great plusses and minuses. One of the real losses is anonymity. I told you recently how text messages and Facebook posts are becoming critical in family practice law.

We’re definitely at the dawn of new era, folks!