We have all read or heard the stories about files and records gathered on the citizens of Germany and Russia during their “non-democratic” years, and although I do not want to be tagged a conspiracy nut, a recent article I found on Reuters (read here) should certainly cause one to contemplate the thin line of separation between the good guys and the bad guys.
It appears that the FBI will be spending $1 billion of our tax money in a quest to build the world’s largest database of biometrics (finger prints, etc.). According to this article, the FBI has already started accumulating finger prints and palm patterns as well as facial pictures and wants to expand the amount and types of information used to identify people both at home and abroad.
Now I am sure that the intent is to keep us safer from terrorism and crime and I suppose that when used by good, honest individuals it would not be a threat. But is it not a fine line of separation from “Big Brother” of the past to “Big Brother” of the future? Is this not the same exact thing but without the manila folders and file cabinets? A project like this is simply one bad political leader away from being misused. I wonder how much of our “Boston Tea Party” birth right Americans have sold for an increased feeling of security served to us on one of Uncle Sam’s fine china platters.
