That is the furthest from the truth and is actually even more reason why 'privacy' is vital to a democracy.
Earlier I mentioned a book about the founder of The Muslim Brotherhood. I mentioned that for a specific reason. But, let's just assume some innocent 'intelliectual' decides to borrow that book from a library.
That same person is seeking employment in a security company. The person is qualified, more than qualified and his background check is complete and sent to the 'decision makers' for his employment. They see the applicant reads some rather 'disturbing' material. So, as a result the applicant that has read historical Muslim material is declined for a 'lesser applicant' without controversial library choices.
There is damage done to a well qualified applicant and it is all because employers can be voyeurs to their employees personal choices.
Republican politicians (click here) on Thursday called for a sweeping new federal law that would require all Internet providers and operators of millions of Wi-Fi access points, even hotels, local coffee shops, and home users, to keep records about users for two years to aid police investigations....
The damage goes beyond personal damage, it impacts social tones and ultimately political decisions. Economies, quiet frankly, can 'stall' in 'variety' to bring about a very 'stale' market place.
So, if there are such problems in gainful employment how does that translate into economic dynamics?
What will occur and I am confident there are elements in the USA right now, is that people will 'see the profit' in limiting their choices. Oh, the choices will be there for as long as there is a minimal market, but, the 'self-discipline' of individuals will create a limited demand for specific 'cultural' demands. The producers of those cultural leanings will do fine, but, there won't be competition from other venues. The markets will becomes saturated by 'the current fashion' and sales will drop off. When there is LITTLE change in the market to encourage 'hunger for knowing' there are huge dynamics that create not just limited market choices, but, 'self-limited' political choices. Elections become meaningless.
When a society becomes 'monotone' and steers away from 'certain topics' then 'the brain trust' is limited. There is NO creative impact to effect markets. The culture is stagnant, the knowledge base limited and all kinds of negative dynamics begin because of lack of imagination and creativity. And let's face it, the people 'getting the jobs' are less qualified, yet more amenable to 'iconography.'
There in lies the dangers of 'the ideologue.' The perfect world. The perfect society. The ANSWERS to all problems.
World domination to bring about a 'monotone' peace has within its definition GENOCIDE. Where that so called 'peace' is a result of war, there will be significant deaths that accompany 'change.'
Where 'self-regulation' of choices due to invasion of privacy that results in 'real world' consequences exists SOCIAL BEHAVIORS will result. That doesn't mean the society is even stable, so much as contained.
Part of what is witnessed in the Middle East is a 'break down' of BEHAVIORS in favor of freedom and choices within that freedom. There was absolutely NO WAY of predicting what is now transpiring and while it seems 'correct' to pick on the intelligence agencies, the dynamics were ALWAYS there. I am sure 'that potential' is in reports across years if not decades of assessments.
It is sort of like a bottle of champagne. The potental for 'the pop' of the cork is inherent to champagne and its 'carafe.' How does one ask an intelligence agency to 'predict' paradigm shifts? It is a silly question, because, if intelligence gathering could predict 'social shifts' in behavior Wall Street would be using it for strategies.
The 'day before' the violence in Tunisia was basically the same as it always had been. What occured when 'the cork popped' in Tunisia was a result of 'the human mind' and the choices it made 'that day.' What occurred after Tunisia was somewhat more predictable, but, it occurred as quickly as the speed of light becuase 'the champagne' is basically the same across the political spectrum of Northern Africa. The exception is Egypt and why Egypt is such a wonderful 'leader' for benevolent change in this area of the world.
Intelligence agencies can track weapons, drugs and the people that use both items to elicit power over others, but, it is really difficult to know what information received over social media will 'pop the cork' to explode a new paradigm.
Choice is an economy. All by itself it is an economy. The PRIVACY to 'explore' those choices is vital to the growth of those economies. If there are unexpected events experienced as 'those choices' are made all we as human beings on Earth can hope for is peaceful people seeking their own justice in peaceful ways. Otherwise, why reach for change if one is not going to be able to enjoy it?
