I sit writing, wondering what the future holds...
The UK elections are taking an interesting term. I say "UK" (as in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), although Fascist States of Britain might be more apropos. It is now next to impossible to move about without being subject to surveillance. You don't know when or where, but you will be watched. Of course, in foreseeing Big Brother, George Orwell didn't count on computers, which mean that it won't be long until you will be constantly subjected to surveillance, by an "infallible" machine, rather than randomly by a human. Of course, it won't take much, apart from a few relatively minor technological innovations, to have the computers monitoring to start making judgments about what you are doing - move a bit too sneakily, be a bit too shifty, be monitored away from your normal haunts, and you will be tagged as engaging in suspicious behaviour. Terrorism laws being what they are, suspicion equals guilt. The technology isn't that far off - there are plenty of experimental systems that can monitor body language to some extent.
How long until sentencing becomes the domain of the machine, too?
How long until a computer cannot process why anyone would state "Two plus two equals five", an illogical statement becomes a capital crime.
Not that 2+2=5. What is important is that a person is free to say it, even if they are wrong. Of course, that does not prevent someone from pointing out why it is wrong.
Once, a few years ago, I was doing night shift work. Normally, I would get too and from by motorbike; this particular night, I was walking the few kilometres home, along a major road. The weather was fine, and I enjoy a late night walk - I find bright light irritating. A walk during the day is tiring, a walk at night refreshing. I was stopped by the police, wanting to know why I was out late at night, where I was going, where I had come from. Of course, I had an answer that could be checked, but if I had just been out strolling, I could have found myself being questioned for several hours...
Back to the UK elections... one media mogul has been visible, tampering with opinion poll results, disposing of the ones which do not point towards his favourite candidate.
In the United States, many groups are openly voicing dissent and speaking of civil war; no doubt quite a few of them are quietly planning for it. No doubt, the same media mogul is adding fuel to the fire.
Is this what happens when most people have entertained themselves into a collective coma?
I sit, writing, listening to Richard Wagner, thinking...