Should we be concerned about the government tracking and storing our every telephone call, email, and internet read?  Isn’t the war on terror more important than a little tracking of our innocent actions?  Isn’t the quantity of data so huge that even when a known threat exists the data is too voluminous to search for leads?  Or is it?

In my opinion, all societies must fear their governments and their governments must be held in check.  Sure, many of the people working for our various government agencies have the best of intentions.  But that’s not all of them.  Some of them become power freaks even at the lowest levels.  Beyond the subordinates, there are the leaders and here the danger increases exponentially because there are despots in all levels of the society.  A couple of the more famous despotic leaders in our country were J. Edgar Hoover and Richard M. Nixon.  They are just two of many that have risen to power in our country.

Everyone is also familiar with the McCarthy era.  That was mob action at it’s best.  Today, political correctness is beyond the pale.  Over time political correctness can morph into forms of McCarthyism that we cannot even imagine today.  It has happened time and time again around the world and the result has been the slaughter and persecution of literally millions of people because of their race, religion, political leanings, social stature, knowledge, investments, age, sex, sexual preferences, diseases, occupations, eating and drinking habits, and many more reasons than I can think of now.  But you get the point.

Think about it.  Pick any topic.  For instance how about income taxes?  Have you ever discussed income taxes with others over the phone or by email.  If you have, you are part of a connected community and that connection can be used against you when it is in the hands of overzealous, corrupt individuals in positions of power.  Corrupt prosecutors, regulators, police, and tax collectors can twist and turn your connections and intentions into hideous crimes that can cost you your freedom, your property, and your life.

Nearly all elected people (politicians) are susceptible to corruption.  In addition, corruption exists in the justice system amongst the police, attorneys, the judges – especially elected judges, and even clerks in the local county courthouse.  “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”  Check out the Hoover link above.  What he did has to send a chill down your spine in light of what our government is doing today.  He (Hoover) used the FBI to harass political dissenters and activists, to amass secret files on political leaders, and to collect evidence using illegal methods.  Hoover consequently amassed a great deal of power and was in a position to intimidate and threaten sitting Presidents.

I wonder what it means to be part of the grass-fed meat community?  Grain producers and marketers, producers of bread products, and others associated with the grain industry have had some pretty harsh things to say about me over the years.  They are members of the vast majority and we do live in a society where majority rules.  So how long will the majority allow dissenters to exist?

Sure, this concern I’ve expressed for grass-fed meats is a little far fetched for this topic.  Or is it?

Where do you stand?  Do you stand with Biden or Obama?  See them debate the issue here.

Ted Slanker

Saturday, June 15, 2013