Incremental Destruction

Never underestimate the power of incrementalism or “shock” negotiation, effective methods to promote an agenda, even when fully opposed. Generally this seems too far-fetched for people to believe because they fall victim to the idea certain changes could never take place in America. For years I have asserted this is an effective method for change and destructive to our lifestyle and freedoms. Currently we are confronted with a plethora of assaults on our liberties, and when faced with a full assault, gaining any concessions makes it feel like a battle has been won, although loss occurred.

Examples of this incremental assault are obvious, our banks and automakers have been nationalized. You may be tempted to cry foul on this assertion, but we know the stories over the past year with the CEO of General Motors having been fired by the POTUS and the American taxpayer becoming the largest stockholder of GM. We have watched votes in Congress pushed through under cover of night, in contradiction to the President’s claim to make bills available online for five days before signing. Last week Democrats reiterated plans to move forward with healthcare, regardless of support from the minority party, or the people. The latest Rasmussen Poll, March 1, 2010, shows “52% of U.S. voters continue to oppose the plan proposed by the president and congressional Democrats.” When President Obama won the election by 53% of the popular vote he claimed he had a “clear mandate” from the people. By the same thought process, I would claim Congress and the President have a “clear mandate” from the people to stop healthcare.

In the early 1980’s proposals for a national identity system were proposed. Quickly this idea was squashed by public opinion and concerns over “1984” becoming the norm. Something else happened though and a national identity system slowly materialized. Today, you can not apply for insurance, attend college, get a loan, apply for a credit card, or apply for a gun license without providing a social security number. Incrementally, a national identity system successfully came into our lives. It took about fifteen years to become normal, with citizens willfully providing this information, “many medical providers are using the SSN as a patient identifier, thus hardening the number as a de facto national identifier,” testified by David Miller before the National Committee on Vital Health Statistics in a hearing in Chicago, Jul. 21, 1998.

I have previously discussed the intrusion of video cameras into all aspects of our lives. I personally noted this during the last week: at an intersection where I counted six cameras atop traffic lights, and a Wal-Mart where 17 separate cameras monitored the parking lot. Reiterating this concern further was a March 3, 2010 USA Today article, “Police partner with license plate readers.” In this article many municipalities are identified with the technology promoting claims to stop stolen vehicles and monitor crimes. Arguably, these governments have an opportunity to first increase revenue in these dire economic times, but more importantly they may track and save vehicle movements for potential misuse at a later date.

Over many objections our government continues to defy the wants of its citizens. Incrementally, through legislation, systems abuses of social security, monitoring citizens with cameras, and using the courts to re-interpret legislation and constitutionality, my children will never know what freedom is. Their lives will be changed by constant monitoring, national identity, and nanny-state mandates more akin to movies like “1984” and “Brazil”. Incrementally, tyranny is becoming the new normal, but yet we feel relief to have any freedom left.