The Freedom of Choice Vol. II: Privacy and Information
January 7th 2011 14:59
There is no greater resource in a free society than the ability for men, women and children from every walk of life to have access to information that affects their well being.
From the decisions and the reasons behind the decisions made by our representatives in Congress and the Oval Office to the workings of local and state legislatures; information is the key to a society truly being free.
A fight for access to information has been the cause of war and strife in some parts of the world as men and women have laid their lives on the line for the ability to be tuned into the actions of governmental powers.
It is this basic idea of what some call a right that has lead modern society into the cross roads of balancing open access to information with what’s left of our personal lives.
Personal lives that have been shaped by the conveniences of computer technology, ATM machines, social networking, credit ratings, online shopping, credit cards, Ticketron and other conveniences of modern living.
Modern living that has now opened up our lives with the same easy access expected from our conveniences.
What was once an exhausting search through public records at a local Courthouse or other information centers in government houses has become a simple internet search to open up the doors to every intricate aspect of our personal lives.
An intrusion that has been taken advantage of by technologically advanced thieves who prey on our conveniences and corporations looking to dig up data on potential consumers to increase profit.
Because of this we have become guarded as a society as we search for ways to return to the comfort of yesteryear before identity hijacking became common place and the fears that were whispered in dark corners became realities.
For all the fear that consumes us we must realize the difference between criminal actions, things posted on the internet that should remain private, the footprint we leave with all of our transactions and interactions on the web and the need for a free society to have open access to information.
While it may be easy to look at the present situation in anger because of what we feel is an encroachment into our personal lives we must also take a deeper look at the consequences that are to come when these actions are interfered with by governmental powers.
Corrective actions of protection that should be focused on criminal activity and how the information got onto cyber space; has been twisted and turned into a power play to regulate the last information frontier.
The battle grounds have been formed and the wolves are circling in the name of protection.
Protection to fix short term problems by preventing corporations from acting as agents of censorship will soon grow into the same agents of restriction that have already created a strangle hold on the information mediums of Television and Radio.
A strangle hold created by the Federal Communications Commission that eventually created the current system of information empires fueled by cash, lack of variety and exclusion of any outside entity that isn’t part of the system.
Billion dollar empires whose ideas of left vs. right, good guys vs. bad guys, half information, division, exaggerations, political hero worship, demonization, smear campaigns, hidden information, selective story coverage and lack of investigative journalism are left unchallenged in their specific mediums because the doors for entry are regulated.
Regulated for those who can afford the entry fee and are able to keep up with the big money game of their competitors.
In a society built on the idea of information being the central part of Democracy it’s hard to believe that we’ve dug a hole for ourselves so deep that it feels comfortable.
The choices in the information we receive from Radio and Television mediums about policies that are being debated and passed on Capitol Hill, news happening in the county, city or state we live and news about things affecting our daily lives are all filtered.
Filtered by government funded news organizations slanted to the left or right and corporate media that is dependent on advertising revenue from the companies that should be making the news.
For all the ferocity that came at Microsoft during their battles with America Online and other internet companies during their ant-trust lawsuits no one ever thought to mention the real definition of a monopoly.
While it may be easy to pin point the things that happen when one company takes over the marketplace and sets unfair prices on the consumer it’s another measure to look at the bigger picture of a market place where only a few companies are left standing and set the rules for themselves.
In one case we’re talking about money as the thing consumers are losing but in the other more serious matter we’re talking about the ability of citizens to understand the true impact of the things happening in their country and world.
Part of the reason why the information age exploded with ferocity is because of the lack of filters.
Filters that framed arguments into this or that when there has always been football stadium size shades of gray that stand between the two sides of extremes.
Access to information gives people choice.
Choice that can be achieved by knowing what our elected representatives stand for beyond the labels of Democrat, Republican or Independent.
Choice that can be achieved by understanding the devastation that is taking place in our food and water supply while our representatives remain content in strengthening the structure of government agencies rather than fixing the problem.
Choice, that will remain if we keep the channels of information open by not allowing our fear to let the walls collapse around us.
Living in an age of technological advancement has its advantages and disadvantages.
While privacy may never be the same as it was in yesteryear; we can still rest easy in the fact that it is now much easier to gain access to information on the actions of government.
Information has always been at our fingertips but it is up to each and every one of us to make the decision to take advantage of the opportunity to access it or to remain ignorant in the belief that change will come to us without the hard work, blood, sweat and tears to achieve it.
For more of the conversation including discussion boards and an ability to connect with other readers please check out the social networking links posted below.
Please click the vote button and the featured ads for this and other blogs on www.politicsandculture.net to show your support for the cause that isn’t about finding a place where everyone can agree on issues but is about finding a place where everyone can join the conversation and have their voice heard.
Comments for discussion are always encouraged and welcome.
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From the decisions and the reasons behind the decisions made by our representatives in Congress and the Oval Office to the workings of local and state legislatures; information is the key to a society truly being free.
A fight for access to information has been the cause of war and strife in some parts of the world as men and women have laid their lives on the line for the ability to be tuned into the actions of governmental powers.
It is this basic idea of what some call a right that has lead modern society into the cross roads of balancing open access to information with what’s left of our personal lives.
Personal lives that have been shaped by the conveniences of computer technology, ATM machines, social networking, credit ratings, online shopping, credit cards, Ticketron and other conveniences of modern living.
Modern living that has now opened up our lives with the same easy access expected from our conveniences.
What was once an exhausting search through public records at a local Courthouse or other information centers in government houses has become a simple internet search to open up the doors to every intricate aspect of our personal lives.
An intrusion that has been taken advantage of by technologically advanced thieves who prey on our conveniences and corporations looking to dig up data on potential consumers to increase profit.
Because of this we have become guarded as a society as we search for ways to return to the comfort of yesteryear before identity hijacking became common place and the fears that were whispered in dark corners became realities.
For all the fear that consumes us we must realize the difference between criminal actions, things posted on the internet that should remain private, the footprint we leave with all of our transactions and interactions on the web and the need for a free society to have open access to information.
While it may be easy to look at the present situation in anger because of what we feel is an encroachment into our personal lives we must also take a deeper look at the consequences that are to come when these actions are interfered with by governmental powers.
Corrective actions of protection that should be focused on criminal activity and how the information got onto cyber space; has been twisted and turned into a power play to regulate the last information frontier.
The battle grounds have been formed and the wolves are circling in the name of protection.
Protection to fix short term problems by preventing corporations from acting as agents of censorship will soon grow into the same agents of restriction that have already created a strangle hold on the information mediums of Television and Radio.
A strangle hold created by the Federal Communications Commission that eventually created the current system of information empires fueled by cash, lack of variety and exclusion of any outside entity that isn’t part of the system.
Billion dollar empires whose ideas of left vs. right, good guys vs. bad guys, half information, division, exaggerations, political hero worship, demonization, smear campaigns, hidden information, selective story coverage and lack of investigative journalism are left unchallenged in their specific mediums because the doors for entry are regulated.
Regulated for those who can afford the entry fee and are able to keep up with the big money game of their competitors.
In a society built on the idea of information being the central part of Democracy it’s hard to believe that we’ve dug a hole for ourselves so deep that it feels comfortable.
The choices in the information we receive from Radio and Television mediums about policies that are being debated and passed on Capitol Hill, news happening in the county, city or state we live and news about things affecting our daily lives are all filtered.
Filtered by government funded news organizations slanted to the left or right and corporate media that is dependent on advertising revenue from the companies that should be making the news.
For all the ferocity that came at Microsoft during their battles with America Online and other internet companies during their ant-trust lawsuits no one ever thought to mention the real definition of a monopoly.
While it may be easy to pin point the things that happen when one company takes over the marketplace and sets unfair prices on the consumer it’s another measure to look at the bigger picture of a market place where only a few companies are left standing and set the rules for themselves.
In one case we’re talking about money as the thing consumers are losing but in the other more serious matter we’re talking about the ability of citizens to understand the true impact of the things happening in their country and world.
Part of the reason why the information age exploded with ferocity is because of the lack of filters.
Filters that framed arguments into this or that when there has always been football stadium size shades of gray that stand between the two sides of extremes.
Access to information gives people choice.
Choice that can be achieved by knowing what our elected representatives stand for beyond the labels of Democrat, Republican or Independent.
Choice that can be achieved by understanding the devastation that is taking place in our food and water supply while our representatives remain content in strengthening the structure of government agencies rather than fixing the problem.
Choice, that will remain if we keep the channels of information open by not allowing our fear to let the walls collapse around us.
Living in an age of technological advancement has its advantages and disadvantages.
While privacy may never be the same as it was in yesteryear; we can still rest easy in the fact that it is now much easier to gain access to information on the actions of government.
Information has always been at our fingertips but it is up to each and every one of us to make the decision to take advantage of the opportunity to access it or to remain ignorant in the belief that change will come to us without the hard work, blood, sweat and tears to achieve it.
For more of the conversation including discussion boards and an ability to connect with other readers please check out the social networking links posted below.
Please click the vote button and the featured ads for this and other blogs on www.politicsandculture.net to show your support for the cause that isn’t about finding a place where everyone can agree on issues but is about finding a place where everyone can join the conversation and have their voice heard.
Comments for discussion are always encouraged and welcome.
Follow Me on Youtube
Click Here
Facebook Fan Page
Click Here
Friend me on Facebook
Click Here
Friend me on Myspace
Click Here
Follow Me on Twitter
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