Who's Watching Who? by Bill Huff
HomeLand Security Vs. TSA Vs. WikiLeaks Vs. Us

Was there ever a secretive government that was not treacherous?

Who really should be watching who? History has but one answer. Tyrants and their minions always have another.

What can we learn by making observations about the observers? Should we be frightened of them or should they be frightened of us? Obviously tyrants are afraid of even the notion that someone should be free from their power or control. If you look most TSA agents straight in the eye what will you see? Will they be a little uncomfortable? I'd bet you could get yourself arrested just by staring intently into their eyes.

When tyrants, sycophants, megalomaniacs, and all their little helpers, are getting ready to do something really nasty to the common man, they plan carefully; watch their prospective prey for a period of time, and then strike, sometimes killing tens of millions. Don't believe it? Click here, or here.

"Very many and very meritorious were the worthy patriots who assisted in bringing back our government to its republican tack. To preserve it in that will require unremitting vigilance."-Thomas Jefferson

In the beginning, “We” watched “Them.” “Them” being government servants, who were in fact, our servants, as required by their oaths of office and the principle of delegated authority:

Rulers are the servants and agents of the people; the people are their masters. - Patrick Henry (Va. Ratifying Convention, 1788)

It seems to have been imagined by some that the returning to the mass of the people was degrading the magistrate. This he thought was contrary to republican principles. In free Governments the rulers are the servants, and the people their superiors & sovereigns. For the former therefore to return among the latter was not to degrade but to promote them--and it would be imposing an unreasonable burden on them, to keep them always in a State of servitude, and not allow them to become again one of the Masters. - Benjamin Franklin (Remarks in Framing Convention, 1787 as summarized by Madison in his record)

Disambiguation: according to Noah Webster in 1828, definition #2 defines the word “ruler” as: “One that makes or executes laws in a limited or free government. Thus legislators and magistrates are called rulers.” In other words “rulers [in 1828 America]” were understood to have circumscribed and limited authority and jurisdiction. This is true today lawfully speaking but not in practice. The unalienable rights of a Minority of One were to be sacrosanct.

We had a better understanding of proper government and its lawful limitations:

"They knew that government was a plain, simple, intelligible thing, founded in nature and reason, and quite comprehensible by common sense." - John Adams

According to Bastiat:

A science of economics must be developed before a science of politics can be logically formulated. Essentially, economics is the science of determining whether the interests of human beings are harmonious or antagonistic. This must be known before a science of politics can be formulated to determine the proper functions of government. Source: THE LAW.

Taking Bastiat's wisdom above into consideration we can easily predict that once a certain faction or combination seizes power over the rest of the People they must also usurp the title of “The Watchers.” Either they take it upon themselves or they delegate it to trusted deputies. Once the government or any monopoly or combination becomes antagonistic to the lives, liberties and properties of ordinary citizens, they must contrive a way to constantly watch all competing interests and make sure everything remains under their control for their benefit. A transparent and free market will not sustain tyranny and despotism. Why do you suppose the Federal Reserve is not welcoming competition with open arms? Truly, from their point of view, they have a good thing going. It is not enough to point out that their machinations would be Anathema to the Founding Fathers. You must be able to answer the question Cui Bono [who benefits] with precision or you really can't tell who is in control, and, by extension, Who should be watching Who. The grip of the Fed is based on the false impression that they exist for the benefit of the American People when nothing could be further from the truth. The perception of the Fed as Savior is fading as more and more Americans wake up. We are hearing subjects and perspectives in the checkout line that were never heard before in my lifetime. And fewer and fewer people think I'm crazy.

To Jefferson and his contemporaries good government did not have any permanent secrets or secret police. Even when viciously attacked by the press Jefferson maintained his advocacy of a free press at all times. It was axiomatic to Jefferson that government could never lawfully seize the property of its citizens under the pretense of taking care of them. Governments who permanently seal records on past office holders and or other notables are going to prove treacherous. Sooner or later the consequences of their lies upon lies will overwhelm those they claim to protect and defend. Lastly they often consume each other. It takes pure hubris for an individual, who is by definition a government servant, to take it upon himself not to confide in his masters, the People. We seem to have a glut of Philosopher Kings right now. And they all know what's good for everyone but themselves.

Sadly, there are those slavish ones among us who say, “If you have nothing to hide why would you mind being groped a little so you can fly safely?” These often find TSA employees who will indulge their fantasy of security through government-sponsored child abuse. Dehumanizing certain classes can be a precursor to Genocide. Those who cry the loudest for more surveillance could be the very ones we should be watching the most. They doth protest too much. The difference between TSA activities and punishable crimes is only context with government sanction.
We should constantly be saying to all governments and the global elite: “We are all watching you and, sooner of later, you will be brought to account for your actions. If you have nothing to hide why would you resist any real audits of your activities?” In fact, whatever we can do in a lawful and non-violent context ought to be done if it will help stem the tide toward global totalitarianism. More control without accountability = less liberty with transparency. Knowing but little history we can easily predict dire consequences as government secrecy goes global. Power corrupts and global power corrupts globally.

Who is more Jeffersonian, WikiLeaks or the TSA?

I have never been able to conceive how any rational being could propose happiness to himself from the exercise of power over others. - Thomas Jefferson

Compare and contrast the embarrassment of the innocent by the TSA with the exposure of the truly hubristic and criminal by WikiLeaks.
Our “Stasi” has to go the way of the East German version.

East Germany formerly had an organization, the Stasi [or Ministry for State Security] that watched the people for political purposes. It was finally shut down. But a Wiki-like event occurred when its headquarters were stormed by an very angry group composed of many factions. Some were trying to preserve incriminating evidence against the organization. Our HomeLand Security thugs should mark well the fate of the Stasi.

The following is just a small part of the Wikipedia material on the Stasi and its demise:

As the GDR began to fall, the Stasi did as well. This meant a loss of their power. The Stasi felt that if they were to lose power, then the files with incriminating evidence would be discovered. They took desperate measures and began to destroy the extensive files that they had kept, both by hand and with the use of a shredder. Citizens Protesting/Invading the Stasi building in Berlin, the sign accuses the Stasi of being Nazistic dictators.

Photo courtesy Wikipedia

When these activities became known, protest erupted in front of the Stasi headquarters.[28] In the evening of 15 January 1990, a large crowd of people formed outside the gates in order to stop the destruction of personal files. In their minds, this information should have been available to them and also have been used to punish those who had taken part in Stasi actions. The large group of protesters grew and grew until they were able to overcome the police and gain entry into the complex. The protestors became violent and destructive as they smashed doors and windows, threw furniture, and trampled portraits of Erich Honecker, leader of the GDR. Among the destructive public were officers working for the West German government, as well as former MfS collaborators seeking to destroy documents. One explanation postulated as to why the Stasi did not open fire was for fear of hitting their own colleagues. As the people continued their violence, these undercover men proceeded into the file room and acquired many files that would become of great importance to catching ex-Stasi members. Source.

So the downfall of the Stasi was a sort of pre-Wiki WikiLeak event. The people were comparing the Stasi to Hitler's Gestapo, just as many Americans are aptly comparing Homeland Security and the TSA to WWII-era Nazi measures.

Q: What will bring down our “Stasi?”

A: Ever-increasing scrutiny! Turn up the heat.

Now it's time for BankiLeaks!

If one of the next leak efforts targets the banking “industry” we may see even more repression of free speech and efforts to limit the effects that Internet disclosure is having on the plans of certain classes of criminals. Is it such a leap to compare the Federal Reserve's proclivity for printing more and more funny money to the late days of the Weimar Republic when paper money became cheaper than cord wood for stoves, or more recently, the Zimbabwean Hyperinflation? But you say they probably have limited themselves to stealing only a couple of hundred trillion? Just wait 'til they get going!

What did it feel like to be a Zimbabwean with a nice cache of Zim Dollars?

Count up all your Federal Reserve Notes and divide the number by 65 followed by 107 zeroes and see what you have left. The Zimbabweans now use the US Dollar [Federal Reserve Notes - Commonly but erroneously called “dollars”] and the South African Rand, both of which are headed as inevitably toward their intrinsic value of ZERO, to “stabilize” their economy.

Is it possible that facilities like WikiLeaks can provide the tools we need to effectively watch the people in powerful positions around the world who may be plotting our destruction along with the eradication of human liberty?

Julian Assange may not prove to be an Angel of Light. But illuminating the dark places of the Global Empire may have an enlightening effect. In the beginning of any investigation it is difficult to tell which clues will help the most. The possibility of more leaks with more observers can help provide an atmosphere of caution for public servants who may not always have the best motives.

The Internet is here to stay!

Even the most powerful of governments cannot afford to take down the Internet. Not the one in China, Russia, or even the naughty one in Washington, DC. The dissemination of complete and true information is the worst thing that can happen to an Evil Empire or it may be the best thing, depending on your point of view. WikiLeaks incidents can help us to elevate the global conversation about the limited utility of government, as well as the dangers of blindly trusting it. With more facts on the table it becomes more and more difficult for government propaganda mills to spin their own version of reality.

Rahm Emanuel advised that one should never waste a good crisis. It's such a pity that governments often use contrived crises to garner more power over their constituents, when they should react to real crises with ever more transparency and accountability. But it is up to all of us to use these teachable moments to educate our fellow citizens as well as our servants in government. We the People Must force government to be honest and transparent.

What do you see in Your mirror?

There are often those among the supporters of tyranny who have become sick of what they do; of what they have become. They have been overcome by pangs on conscience and cannot wait to get something off their chest. They feel dirty. Like Louis, in the last scene from Casa Blanca, people sometimes change sides at crucial moments. They only appear to have been cooperating.

Let's round up the Unusual suspects!

This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Here's looking at you Julian!

I refer all government servants to #IX of the “Ten Commandments” that apply to their lawful obligations called “The Code of Ethics for Government Service.” It reads, in pertinent part, “... Any person in government service should... Expose Corruption Wherever Discovered...” Source

So stop shredding and deleting... and start leaking!

We'll be watching you!

Amendment IV [not yet repealed as far as I know]:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Bill Huff, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., is a Classical Libertarian and proprietor of LEXREX.com; a former public school music teacher turned home schooling advocate; a US Navy veteran, and host of WarIsARacket.com. He is available as a guest lecturer or for interviews on talk radio. Copyright © 2011 Bill Huff

Note: This was another poster from the government promoting our involvement in WWII and conservation for the war effort: