George Orwell, here we come

Let us assume for a moment that as of right now, the Government has the ability to track anyone, anywhere, at any time. In what ways is your freedom inhibited, limited, or in any way infringed? I would like to hear a good explaination since you assert that "most of their freedom depends on the Government's inability to track everyone, everywhere." Looking forward to your response.

First, your premise is wrong. The government already has the ability that you suggest. When focusing on a particular individual, they can track someone nearly all of the time. What is being posited is the ability to track most people, most of the time, most places, and have all the data in a data base available to those in govt most able to abuse it. This is a far different and far more dangerous situation.

First, it is nearly impossible to live without breaking laws in today's society. This gives ample opportunity to stifle dissent using the existing legal structure. Do you *Never* go over the speed limit, carry a gun within a thousand feet of a school, take a thousand dollars out of a bank on two different days within a week, contribute to a "terrorist group" (how do you know, they are always changing?), put your garbage out too early or too late, or any of the other things that may, or may not be illegal in today's society. Second, even if you thread the legal needle completely, which I believe to be nearly impossible, are you sure that you will never find yourself in circumstances where the case could plausibly be made that you were violating the law, especially tax law?

Once you realize that if the powers that be want to persecute you, they can, then it becomes very important just how easy it is for them to do so. A data base of everyone, with everyone's purchases, health records, travel records, library withdrawals, and all internet communications makes it infinitly easier to use the legal system to persecute people.

Suppose that you are critical of a new president, a new leftist, on FR. This is logged. It is noted that you have purchased a ticket to travel to a city where the new president's daughter is giving a speech. It is noted that you bought ammunition two years before. Your house is raided, everything is torn apart, all guns, ammunition, computers, books, phone directories, and address books are confiscated on the premise of a threat.

People soon learn not to be critical of the new president. Your freedom of speech has just been significantly restricted.

People in many major cities already do not purchase guns because "they don't want to get into trouble". Their 2nd amendment rights have already been chilled. When the federal government knows if you attended a gun show by the location your car was parked, this right is further diminished. The combination of enourmous codes of law, many of which are contradictory and impossible to decipher, combined with the database proposed, gives a real power to a predatory administration.

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