Press Action ::: Surveillance USA

Monday, January 05, 2004

Surveillance USA

"To be governed is to be at every move, at every operation, at every transaction, noted, registered, enrolled, taxed, stamped, measured, numbered, assessed, licensed, authorized, admonished, forbidden, reformed, corrected, punished. It is, under pretext of public utility, and in the name of the general interest, to be placed under contribution, trained, ransomed, exploited, monopolized, extorted, squeezed, mystified, robbed; then, at the slightest resistance, the first word of complaint, to be repressed, fined, despised, harassed, tracked, abused, clubbed, choked, imprisoned, shot, machine-gunned, judged, condemned, deported, sacrificed, sold, betrayed; and, to crown all, mocked, ridiculed, outraged, dishonored. That is government; that is its justice; that is its morality."
--Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, in a declaration that retains its power no matter how often repeated

Fingerprints and mug shots. That’s what several million visitors to the United States will be forced to endure each year if they want to enter our bastion of freedom. And it’s all being done in our name.

Government officials say we should welcome the new system for tracking visitors because of the added layer of security it will provide. Don’t you love the way agents of the state always seek to depict the implementation of an intrusive and totalitarian government policy as a big favor. "This is for your safety and your own good."

Aside from pissing off lots of tourists and causing many to rethink their travel plans ("If you’re not a terrorist then why should you care if we take your fingerprints and photograph?"), the new policy will have a ripple effect on how the United States polices its own citizens. Each year, as similar policies are adopted, Americans will grow increasingly conditioned to accept such intrusive behavior.

This latest policy, lobbied for by members of Congress and implemented by the Bush administration, represents the completion of another stage in the ongoing internal transformation of the United States into a paranoid state-capitalist version of East Germany. Yet, in 2004 and beyond, the United States has the technological means to develop a police state apparatus more impressive in its efficiency and scope than any internal surveillance mechanism ever developed by East Germany or any other totalitarian regime.

"Documents, please,” the police officer says at the roadblock, set up near the federal building. “Not your driver’s license, sir, we need to see your papers. ... Excuse me? Are you saying you don’t have your Homeland Security papers? Sir, you need to slowly step out of the vehicle and come with us to headquarters. Please be quiet, sir, and come with us."

-- Mark Hand

More from Mark Hand