Friends, when I saw this article this morning on Reuters, I knew the game was up, knew that we were entering a frightening new era, one where Big Brother rules.
It appears that the U.S., ever inventive, is going to patrol the border with Mexico using drones called Predators which can stay aloft for up to 30 hours at a time.
Yes, soon the south-west border some 2,000 miles long will be under constant surveillance. Using infra-red technology, the drones will be able to see day and night and help to disrupt the activities of drug smugglers and would-be immigrants.
At this stage, as far as I can gather, the drones won’t be armed but it’s only a little step to put a missile or two on the drone and before you know it, people are being blown to pieces much as they are in Pakistan and wherever else these silent killing machines are being used!
Then, eventually, some devious mind in the Pentagon or in Congress might well put two and two together and ask, “Why stop there? We could employ our drones in other places. We could spy on or obliterate all those considered to be our enemies with the press of a button. “
America could begin to make these drones much as Ford did the motor car and, before we know it, American drones are patrolling the skies of the world and blowing up anyone who the Americans don’t like which seems to include much of the world.
And, keep this in mind: drones could be used within America to get rid of protest groups and anyone considered to create a risk to the incumbent Government!
And can you imagine the boost to the American economy given that the Predator B drones are made by defense contractor General Atomics? The drones could be leased to Allies of America but America would probably ensure it controls the drone movements and the firing of missiles.
I’m sorry to be so pessimistic about these drones but given the naked ambition of some American leaders to control the world by military force, the drone seems to provide them with a perfect tool.
Be warned. Big Brother may be in your neighbourhood sooner than you think!
P.S. Better carry an America flag with you every time you go outside your home and wave it enthusiastically. Better still, wave it and sing: God Bless America!
We’ve come a long way baby from Cheech and Chong getting stoned while crossing the Border. David, this Drone business would be comical in a sane world! Brilliant post.
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David G Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 5:26 am
You are too kind, Grace. When trying to second guess what American leaders might do next, it pays to be a little crazy!
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david,
living in texas, not far from the mexican border, i can assure you that we have a choice of having big brother in our backyard or illegal aliens from columbia, honduras, mexico, panama, etc. in our backyard
in the 50′s and 60′s “wet backs” were almost universally people looking for work. they did little harm and stayed to themselves. it started to shift in the 70′s from almost all being people looking for work, to most looking for work. it got worse in 80′s and 90′s and today as they come across many (still not most) tear down fences, kill livestock, steal from barns and homes, and occasionally worse.
for people on the border the land and their homes no longer feel safe. in the long run americans may regret drones and a heavy federal presence, but right now they are so desperate they are willing to try just about anything
q
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Australia’s having a few problem with illegal immigrants coming by boat at the moment, Q, so I can sympathize with American problems caused by porous borders.
Australia also has problems with drugs coming in as does America but fortunately we don’t have a flood of guns. These problems seem to occur across the world and solutions aren’t easy.
Cheers.
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The drugs come north, but the guns flow south. The US supplies the gangs with markets for the drugs, and with all the guns they need.
The thing about people is that they don’t automatically disappear when their land is taken and their jobs disappear.
Just like the homeless in the US, passing laws to make them disappear doesn’t work.
Are we going to switch to a society in which the work is divided among us all, or is the US going to start literally disappearing people as they have done in Central and South America for so many years?
You may be right, David. The decision made by the sociopaths who rule us seems to be murder of unwanted people, not sharing the labor and the proceeds of society.
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And, of course, Australia and America were both settled by excess people from England, who weren’t needed in the industrializing society which threw peasants off of their land.
History isn’t really linear. Mexico and Asia still had peasants eking a living off of small plots until the last 30 years, which England stomped out 300 years ago.
If the Native Americans and aboriginals of Australia had had drones and WMD, our countries would look a lot different!
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David G Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 11:45 pm
Thanks for the two comments, wagelaborer. The problems created by excess humans (excess to the need of capitalism that is) will continue to grow. Unless you’re a willing producer and/or consumer, Western society has no place for you. And our technology ensures that fewer and fewer people are needed.
Perhaps the gas ovens may become popular again?
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david,
i agree that humans, nations, and governments have an endless list of problems but every living human can easily fit in Russia with room to spare. THE problem isn’t overcrowding of the earth, the problems include 1.) humans refuse to organize for the good of others, 2.) humans cannot control their emotions (especially fear), 3.) humans are short sighted, 4.) humans filter out information they dont like (even deny their mortality for example).
q
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David G Reply:
September 4th, 2010 at 2:08 am
Q, I agree with your 4 points. My latest post suggests some others.
Take care!
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