Chris Hedges - The Last Gasp of American Democracy

[JDPriestly]

54. How strongly have the newscasters on MSNBC denounced the NSA surveillance?

If they are serious about defending freedom of the press, they will fight the surveillance with all their might, all their power.

"Our corporate totalitarian rulers deceive themselves as often as they deceive the public. Politics, for them, is little more than public relations. Lies are told not to achieve any discernable goal of public policy, but to protect the image of the state and its rulers. These lies have become a grotesque form of patriotism. The state’s ability through comprehensive surveillance to prevent outside inquiry into the exercise of power engenders a terrifying intellectual and moral sclerosis within the ruling elite. Absurd notions such as implanting “democracy” in Baghdad by force in order to spread it across the region or the idea that we can terrorize radical Islam across the Middle East into submission are no longer checked by reality, experience or factually based debate. Data and facts that do not fit into the whimsical theories of our political elites, generals and intelligence chiefs are ignored and hidden from public view. The ability of the citizenry to take self-corrective measures is effectively stymied. And in the end, as in all totalitarian systems, the citizens become the victims of government folly, monstrous lies, rampant corruption and state terror.

. . . ."

http://www.truthdig.com/report/page2/the_last_gasp_of_american_democracy_20140105

Brilliant. Chris Hedges, like me, has seen how surveillance, a visit from the police late on the night before you are planning to travel to another country, the police knowing your whereabouts, acquaintances, travels, off-hand remarks about politics, family, religion, lovers, any complaint you have voiced about the government silences you. You don't ever have to be put in prison. It's just knowing that someone is watching that deprives you of your freedom and creativity. That is especially true when you are young and seeking to establish yourself in a career.

Americans naively think that totalitarianism, authoritarian government is necessarily violent. That is not the case. The threat of violence, fear of standing out in the crowd, it is those very subtle means of intimidation that authoritarian governments use to subjugate a people. I wondered why the American press did so little reporting on the STASI files and the STASI excesses. When I realized how far-reaching the surveillance by the NSA is, I understood. Our press is already scared numb and dumb.