“There’s a case that can be made for the need to monitor savage civilizations who’ve developed the means of space flight, and have harnessed the atom.”
We’re still confined to a small part of our solar system. When we overcome that, then I suspect we would be monitored very closely. Right now, I doubt we even raise alien eyebrows.
The sudden appearance of reported UFO sightings is date co-incident with our dropping the first atomic bombs on Japan.
Ever since that time, there have been sightings reported around the world. Prior to that time, these reports were exceedingly rare. So rare, in fact, that they went almost unnoticed in the press.
I can think with your logic, though. Once an advanced race discovered that our space travel technology is in its infancy, you'd think that they would greatly reduce their surveillance.
But --- what if our space travel technology is more advanced than our government is letting on? Think the aliens might keep a closer watch on us?
Perhaps that's the reason we continue to see reports in the press about UFO sightings.
I guess we are sort of like the North Korea threat or maybe the Venezuela threat?