Troubling Times: The Rise of Big Brother (Blog)

[Erin Pavlina]

Use this thread to discuss the following entry from Erin Pavlina's blog:

Troubling Times: The Rise of Big Brother

[James81]

Ha! The funny thing is that when I started reading this article, I saw the part where you said our freedoms were being stripped from us, and I immediately thought about what I was going to come here and post.

Then I read some more and halfway down the article I saw the very thing I was going to post in your article:

And the worst part is, we’re handing our power over on a silver platter. “Protect us!”

You must be some kinda wizard.

[jasonb]

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither safety nor liberty." -Benjamin Franklin

[Sonnenblume]

I totally agree with the article. And the sad thing is that the United States are often a role model for the world, so other governments also try to take the freedoms of their citizens away.

And the US administration is doing its part, lobbying very hard that other nations also take the same security measures.

[gingerbaker]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/07/ny...mething&st=cse

"Now, an overview of police data relating to calls to the hot line over the past two years reveals the answer and provides a unique snapshot of post-9/11 New York, part paranoia and part well-founded caution. Indeed, no terrorists were arrested, but a wide spectrum of other activity was reported."

We've been living with these ads for a long time now. :/

[MrsBlessed]

I really appreciate the article, Erin. I know it's not your usual niche, but it needs to be said. Thanks for speaking up

[Andrew Gubb]

I like it a lot and I think it says a lot about your spirit somehow.

I want to make such messages myself sometimes though I seem to get mixed up in negativity and the message comes through unclear. The Earth, the Universe and our very souls are all screaming at us to make an urgent change. However, if I focus too much on the negative I get both negative myself, and attacked for negativity (especially by the negativity-phobic spiritual community). I guess it takes a solid sense of grounding and a high vibration to be able to stay positive in a message which is basically holding up a mirror to a negative situation.

I don't know what more to say, my guidance seems to be suggesting I open up -- I guess I will say that I feel very happy to know you, Erin, and very connected to you and what you find yourself teaching. There aren't many role models out there for what I want to be but you sure are one of them

Love

Andrew

PS: did you get that message I sent you on FB?

[Erin Pavlina]

Hi Andrew, I got the message but haven't had a chance to read it all the way through yet.

[Cado]

Funny that, Asmoday wrote something on this not that long ago: Wikileaks and Operation Leakspin

And I posted my thoughts on the forum over there: Wikileaks and Operation Leakspin

While I don't like simply linking to someone else's site... Well I suppose I'm not. What I'm saying is that this is an ideal time for the two sides to come together, because I don't think either lightworkers or darkworkers can tackle this on their own.

This is happening. This is real. No positive pseudo-spirituality will make it go away. There will be a fight, even if it's an invisible one. We can't simply allow our freedom and dignity to disappear.

And ultimately I don't think we will. This is the turn of the tide, but that's only if we make it happen. You, me, that guy eating chips in the corner, everybody.

Life doesn't happen to us, we make it happen. So what's it gonna be?

[Tobias Zimpel]

It's a sign of greatness to speak up when one notices something that goes terribly wrong - and it's one's duty to use all and every communication channel available to spread the word.

And as a matter of fact, the whole "Big Brother"-Thing is something where individuals can make a difference! Either by not flying when they can find another way to travel, or by refusing to get "scanned" in an overly intimate way.

Tobias

[dendennz]

.... as a New Zealander, who looks to US as our Big Brother (in the brotherly sense - not the paranoid watchdog sense ), a country that is a major source of entertainment (movies, TV), innovation (Apple, Microsoft, etc), and beauty (too many places to list here) I, along with my friends and family, are GOBSMACKED by the paranoia that is "Homeland Security". Utterly. People will always find a way of doing things if they REALLY want to. People are jealous of the wonderful things that come from the USA. And rightly so. And their jealousy makes some want to lash out, esp. when it reminds them of how little they have or how badly they've screwed up their own country...

But crikey - I so agree with Erin. We hear about these things on television and radio and we all roll our eyes and go, "There go those crazy Americans again..."

Gives the world a bad impression of a country that has so much to be proud of. I'd love to come to your fair country, but not if I have to practically get naked to get thru the airport.. sheesh. Even I have my limits

I hope the American public can start to apply some pressure to get these measures lightened up a little.

Just read on our local news website Stuff.co.nz - Latest New Zealand News & World News, Sports News & NZ Weather Forecasts that the American Ambassador to NZ freaked out over one of the NZ government ministers going to a charity screening of Farenheit 9/11. Far out. I'm sorry, but I think it's time the US minded their own bloody business unless their help is specifically asked for...

Good luck

Cheers,

Jenny.

[sebtanic]

Hungary passed a law last week which puts all press and internet publishing under the control of a government-appointed institution. Plus, Hungary will be presiding the European Union as of January. The law was passed conveniently a couple of days before Christmas, so most people have other things to do than to protest.

While there were some mild protests from other European politicians, it is not certain if the European Union will be able or willing to pressure Hungary to take back this new law.

I wonder what part the American ambassadors play in this? As we know since Wikileaks, American ambassadors quite actively influence other countries' legislation. In Spain for example the American ambassador was strongly in favor of a law permitting to close web sites without any court oder. Luckily this law was rejected at the last moment because the Spanish government did not get any votes from other parties...

Were are we heading with this?

Have some awesome and censorship-free holidays, everyone!

[elucidate]

It's a symptom of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to be THIS hyper-vigilant about safety.

I've experienced it myself and I know many people have as well, but I've never seen a security company display the symptoms so outrageously.

Paranoia keeps the rabbit awake, but it also makes it jumpy at every little noise that occurs, and while it's chasing phantom attacks, the fox comes in through another route and eats it!

[relaXman]

In Turkey ; kind of program like Big Brother became populer 10 years ago for only 2-3 years.

Now there is no posibility of becoming popular of these kind of programs.

I think they are waste of time.

[Bliss Sage]

YouTube - TSA: Body Scanners Ineffective - TSA Sexual Assults Continue

I'm glad you wrote this, Erin. I'm so glad to learn there are other people, and someone like you who can reach many people, who haven't lost their minds. I seem only to find, pardon this, but stupid Americans who are saying "Well, it's for our own protection. I'd rather be safe." And then I will come back with a post of a video clip from CNN that says explicitly that the x-ray machines don't even detect explosives on someone's body, ergo, the cancer machines don't protect us from anything, and would likely not even have detected the bomb in the underwear of the "underwear bomber" - who was the excuse that these cancer machines were introduced in the first place. Yet, despite the crystal-clear words and proof, idiots continue to write that it's ok, because it's for our protection. One even wrote that she didn't want someone with a gun on her plane, in her defense of these machines - and I pointed out that guns are metal and the cancer-inducing machine is not necessary to detect a gun. Still, the revelation of her illogic changed nothing in her opinion. That's why I felt compelled to use the adjective "stupid."

In fact, my (highly politically active) mother found out that there is at least one politician who stands to make a lot of money off of the sale of those machines.

I also read an article in which the Israeli person responsible for airport security scoffed at the American approach to airport security. He said this is absolutely not the way to address security at an airport. First they ruined the concept of health care (which, comparatively, works fine in every other western country in the world) and now airport security - is the U.S. so arrogant and so far above asking guidance of other countries that already have proven, tried and successful processes in place? Or does "doing it right" and effectively simply not serve the agendas of the people in power?

When people like Steve and Erin speak their minds on subjects like this, it brings a ray of light into what is otherwise a very dark and dismal-feeling area of life, which I, at least, try to avoid thinking a lot about.

[givejonadollar]

Fear not.

A totalitarian society cannot last. The best they can do is convert to total socialism, of which almost all countries are trying, but socialism always fails because centrally planned economies are impossible long term.

As government becomes more fearful they only plant the seeds of their own demise.

The people will have their day and it won't be pretty.

It's a matter of "when" and not "if".

The ultimate question becomes what the liberators will fill the vacuum with.

[secrets0stolen]

Originally Posted by givejonadollar

Fear not.

A totalitarian society cannot last. The best they can do is convert to total socialism, of which almost all countries are trying, but socialism always fails because centrally planned economies are impossible long term.

All economies--in the common sense of the word--are impossible in the long term.

[givejonadollar]

Originally Posted by secrets0stolen

All economies--in the common sense of the word--are impossible in the long term.

Wrong.

Free market economies can last forever in the absence of government intervention.

[secrets0stolen]

Originally Posted by givejonadollar

Wrong.

Free market economies can last forever in the absence of government intervention.

Not if we run out of materials to turn into stuff to buy with the units we were given for turning materials into stuff.


Like I've said before, there's a lot of variation in what free market can mean for real life consequences. The common denominator is no government intervention, but there are other factors that come into play. How big is the population? How do they get food? Is power distributed? Land? What are the cultural values the determine peoples behavior? What's the technological zeitgeist? And on and on and on.

But, the definition for most economies and their measure of health is typically said to be growth. And that, by definition, can't go on forever.

[givejonadollar]

Sure it can.

Want more wood? Grow more trees.

Want more food? Make more animals.

Earth is 70 percent water. We shouldn't have a problem if the market handles it.

Heck, don't recycle, upcycle.

There are not many things that can't be reproduced or replaced.

[secrets0stolen]

Originally Posted by givejonadollar

Sure it can.

Want more wood? Grow more trees.

Want more food? Make more animals.

Earth is 70 percent water. We shouldn't have a problem if the market handles it.

Heck, don't recycle, upcycle.

There are not many things that can't be reproduced or replaced.

Yes, and the rate is important--at some point, the rate has to stop growing. Even oil is technically renewable, it just takes millions of years for it to be renewed. And of course there are "side effects". We've succeeded big time at making more animals, cheaply. At the cost of superbugs, torture, pollution, unhealthy food, contamination, and soil depletion (from the cheap food we feed to our cheap food).

As far as water goes, we do have the options of desalinization and distillation. But imagine having that pumped to Arizona? That's incredibly inefficient compared to responsible use of our aquifers, or better yet local wells. However, we might not have that option in the future if we use up or contaminate our groundwater. Most deserts are in fact man-made (the middle east comes to mind--used to be cedar forests), and that causes problems with our water supply as well. Unfortunately, not all places can collect rainwater!

Another issue we have to deal with is waste. We're currently just heaping it in a pile and averting our eyes, but that can't go on forever either. There's some promising research on plastic eating bacteria, and many things do break down, however we currently don't know if those bi products are safe: for humans or the system as a whole. And nuclear waste is something no one really know what to do with, but our approach is familiar: look away!

[SarahLuvzYu]

When I was young I dreamed of going to America. The older I got the more I realised that my dreams & expectations were just a fascade & that the reality wasn't so pretty. I would still love to go to America one day, it's a great country in it's own way & lots to do (So keen to go to New York City~!), but while this TSA bs is still going on no way will I set foot on American soil which saddens me but hey I value my freedom more plus I can barely handle having a quick pat down at other airports let alone a full on grope.

[Liberty]

Thanks Erin for this blog post. The more research one does into these matters, the more apparent it becomes that the Orwellian world of 1984 is already here.

You brought out the crucial point that 'love is our resistance' (to borrow from a song by Muse). And I totally agree. But only when love is combined with truth, with as full an understanding as possible of what is really going on in any situation, will answers arise that will lead to better things. This is as true for national policy as it is for personal relationships. If we don't have the information we need, the solutions we come up with won't work because they are based on false paradigms.

Truth gives us the power to make wise decisions based on what is actually happening, vs. what we think (or are conditioned to think, or would like to think) is happening. Pretending my spouse is being faithful when confronted with evidence to the contrary will not empower me to make good decisions; only the unvarnished truth of our relationship can do that. Unpleasant facts that have been purposely hidden rip more deeply through our core being when they are discovered, often destroying our worldview and our sense of security for a time. But it is vital for our personal (and collective) growth to actively seek out as much truth as we can, then work through the changes necessary to embrace that truth, no matter how painful or life-altering it is.

Take the horrors which occurred on Sept. 11th. A huge percentage of rational people including 9/11 victims' family members, first responders from the scene, government and military officials, scientists, pilots, architects, engineers, FBI whistleblowers and 9/11 Commission members say that the events of that day were not the result of terrorist attacks. Instead, the facts point to a well-planned concerted effort by many factions within our own government, creating a pretext for two wars in key locations and the establishment of the police state now rising around us.

The glaring discrepancies in so-called official data, the many physical impossibilities which apparently took place unhindered by the laws of gravity and aerodynamics, eyewitness accounts that disappeared from mainstream media as soon as they were aired, these were glossed over by well-rehearsed storylines even before the dust settled. The official version of 9/11 is the biggest public lie in history. And it happened right in front of us, perpetrated by experts who know how to use our emotions, our profound shock, and our ignorance of the world as weapons of manipulation for their own ends.

Please check out these resources:

The Complete 9/11 Timeline
9/11 Truth
Infowars
Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth
FBI whistleblower Sibel Edmonds
Building 7, the third World Trade Center tower to fall on 9/11
911 Blogger
Love and peace,
Liberty

[elucidate]

I find it strange that so many people refuse to admit that these people in power are actually that good at manipulating things to their will and advantage, right in front of us and under our noses, boldly and without remorse...but then, the power of denial is formidable indeed, and those people rely on that fact the way we do for air.

I knew it in my heart as soon as I saw the towers fall on t.v. I didn't even need to hear the facts or evidence.

Originally Posted by Liberty

Thanks Erin for this blog post. The more research one does into these matters, the more apparent it becomes that the Orwellian world of 1984 is already here.

You brought out the crucial point that 'love is our resistance' (to borrow from a song by Muse). And I totally agree. But only when love is combined with truth, with as full an understanding as possible of what is really going on in any situation, will answers arise that will lead to better things. This is as true for national policy as it is for personal relationships. If we don't have the information we need, the solutions we come up with won't work because they are based on false paradigms.

Truth gives us the power to make wise decisions based on what is actually happening, vs. what we think (or are conditioned to think, or would like to think) is happening. Pretending my spouse is being faithful when confronted with evidence to the contrary will not empower me to make good decisions; only the unvarnished truth of our relationship can do that. Unpleasant facts that have been purposely hidden rip more deeply through our core being when they are discovered, often destroying our worldview and our sense of security for a time. But it is vital for our personal (and collective) growth to actively seek out as much truth as we can, then work through the changes necessary to embrace that truth, no matter how painful or life-altering it is.

Take the horrors which occurred on Sept. 11th. A huge percentage of rational people including 9/11 victims' family members, first responders from the scene, government and military officials, scientists, pilots, architects, engineers, FBI whistleblowers and 9/11 Commission members say that the events of that day were not the result of terrorist attacks. Instead, the facts point to a well-planned concerted effort by many factions within our own government, creating a pretext for two wars in key locations and the establishment of the police state now rising around us.

The glaring discrepancies in so-called official data, the many physical impossibilities which apparently took place unhindered by the laws of gravity and aerodynamics, eyewitness accounts that disappeared from mainstream media as soon as they were aired, these were glossed over by well-rehearsed storylines even before the dust settled. The official version of 9/11 is the biggest public lie in history. And it happened right in front of us, perpetrated by experts who know how to use our emotions, our profound shock, and our ignorance of the world as weapons of manipulation for their own ends.

Please check out these resources:

The Complete 9/11 Timeline
9/11 Truth
Infowars
Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth
FBI whistleblower Sibel Edmonds
Building 7, the third World Trade Center tower to fall on 9/11
911 Blogger
Love and peace,
Liberty