Editorial #313 The Dirty Secret of Secrets
Where is the line between security and privacy? That is the horns of the dilemma upon which we all rest. Our privacy to guard our personal and financial information from the wrong people is one of our most important issues.
In an honest world, being open would not pose a threat if one has nothing to hide. Small towns in the ‘50’s told their neighbors when they were going on a trip. They knew they could leave their home unlocked with their neighbor keeping watch. The days of unlocked doors are gone. But locking your door only keeps honest people honest. If someone really wanted to break in, the locked door would not be a deterrent. The ‘real money’ is in banks. But robberies very rare because it is hard to crack a safe.
Theft has now evolved to the internet, where ALL our information is stored. With the right skill set, ransomware pirates are our biggest security threat. Crypto currency has further compromised that security, as it provides a cover of anonymity, which is exactly what every crook wants.
Sadly, the privacy we so treasure is the weakest link in the fight to protect our assets and way of life. That same privacy feature is the online pirate’s best friend for staying anonymous, which we thought was the best way to protect our own security. Privacy has become a double-edged sword. It keeps things so secret that sometimes we can’t access our own information.
The real question is how much oppression do we tolerate to have privacy and security? Can we expect only the ‘good guys’ to have complete privacy, while the ‘bad guys’ wear a ‘scarlet letter’ on their shirt? Who decides who gets ‘a letter’ that determines their honesty status? The real problem is our own government is starting to look like the ‘bad guys’. It is gradually becoming the ‘Big Brother’ who knows more about us than we know about ourselves.
Do we want a society where facial recognition cameras are everywhere, giving or taking ‘good citizen’ points for any infraction that ‘Big Brother’ determines? In China ‘good citizen’ grades from security monitors determine everything, from what one pays for bus fare, car pool lanes and airline tickets, to what your tax bill or utility rates will be.
This is a form of passive extortion and is becoming the weapon of choice that can control an entire nation’s ability to function. If there is any silver lining, cybercrime is easier and cheaper than using nuclear weapon. This almost guarantees there will never be a nuclear war because it can achieve the same result with much less mess, expense and collateral damage.
All ‘honest’ wars (that is wars not fought as diversions by corrupt politicians) are fought for one reason: to settle a disagreement on what the core values of truth, fairness, sustainability and integrity are with the objective to force the other side to say “UNCLE” and agree. If one can achieve this without bombing the world into oblivion, is that a preferred approach?
The ultimate irony is the human race has been living in the age of ‘Big Brother’ for thousands of years. He’s not a brother, He’s God, who is aware of our every move and intention, instead of the high tech controllers of the highest level of technological surveillance.
Without God and an eternal reward, there is no incentive to live by the Golden Rule or the Ten Commandments if the only reward is cheaper bus fare. This is why communist, socialist and totalitarian regimes are so determined to eliminate God and replace Him with a central, all-knowing government that controls everything you have, receive and own. Without a belief in a higher being and eternal salvation, there is no purpose or incentive to make the world a better place that undermines the propaganda, purpose and control of tyrannical governments.
This is Keith Kube wishing you the best in making the world a better place.
Keith has a regular commentary on WJAG 780 radio at 7:40 on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Check his website www.keithkube.com for past editorials.
