Big Brother's Watching-My Take on Tracked, Traced, and Databased

I have never been one to be very paranoid about Big Brother watching my actions, and I know that our Understanding Privacygovernment keeps tabs on people in many ways. They keep tabs on what websites they visit and what they post.  There are cameras everywhere; at banks, in malls, at traffic signals, there is a camera in my laptop.  I just never thought that I had anything to hide and that there would be no reason for the government to worry about me.

I am beginning to think otherwise.  I am vocal on facebook and make no  secret that I think this administration is trying to ruin this country and that just in case there is a revolution, there are things one should do to prepare.  I am not a gun collector, even though I own a handgun and some hunting guns. However; I do believe that I may be being watched and labeled as a "gun nut".  I am not a "gun nut", I never even owned a handgun until a couple of years when I became a silver nut.  Because I am always trading in silver and gold I bought a handgun. But I never thought that my constitutional right to own a gun and to speak my mind would get me labelled as someone who should be watched.

Well, in my work I fly all over the country, I am probably out of town more than I am in town.  So, last Monday when I went to check in at the local airport, I was pulled aside and told that they would have to process me differently.  They swabbed my hands with something I can only assume is to detect explosives or GSR, then they took my case with my GPS (They always do this) and scrutinize it and open it.  I fly with the same case every week as do about twenty other people from my office, you would think they had seen a GPS unit before.  Then when I got on the plane, with all my suspicion aroused I know the guy next to me was an Air Marshall.  Well, that's just me, what about you.  Read this article on how we are being tracked, traced, and databased: http://www.lewrockwell.com/spl2/tracked-traced-databased.html. Then tell me I am just being paranoid.

Undecided about the Federal Bailout

I am not sure what to make of the proposed federal bailout. At first I thought it might be a good idea to keep the US economy from sliding into a terrible recession or even a great depression. I also thought that perhaps the bailout would boost confidence in the stock market ans I could get in on some of the deflated stocks just as they would become more valuable. Now I am not so sure.

If the bailout did not happen I am not sure how it would affect me but I am sure I would survive. The proponents of this plan say banks do not have money to lend. Well I am not planning on taking out any loans anytime soon. I have several credit cards but I pay the balance off monthly. I have a mortgage but unlike the people who got caught up in the whole subprime ARM mortgage scheme, I knew better and had a great credit score, so I got a 6% 30 year fixed mortgage. I also am not trying to keep up with anyone or impress anyone so I bought a modest pre-owned house in a good neighborhood. I have two vehicles paid off so I will not be financing a car anytime soon.

The biggest uncertainty if the bailout did not happen is how it would affect my job. I do not know anything about how their finances work. I do know that they make most of their money on government contracts. We do consulting work for the Corps of Engineers, FEMA, Border Patrol, DOD and many others. We also do work for the private sector. However, if there were a run on banks, how would they pay me? I also have my savings in banks and 401ks. what would happen to that money. Does the FDIC have enough to cover all the the banks that could possibly fail? Would I lose all the money in the 401ks? 401ks are not insured by the FDIC.

I know it is not fair to use taxpayer monies to cover greedy banks and lenders, or ignorant people who fell prey to them. People should know how much home they can afford and live below their means not above them.

Whatever happens I know that I have no control over what congress does, but I do have control over how I react. I am not panicking, I just rode out two hurricanes and did not panic, I was prepared but I was prepared long before the storms formed. I think the same logic should be applied to the economy. I should have been prepared well before the "crisis", and you can bet that next time I will be.