[ThroatStuffer]

I really do not care what the government tracks.  If they think my porn is interesting, they're welcome to it

[Gaelle]

Well, this thread is really interesting.  And more interesting for me as an European, to see how Americans react about a subject like this;
We heard about the Patrioct Act after 9/11.   I remember at that time, many people here said.."ok..the Americans were crazy before this, now they are completely nuts".  I think we didn't clearly realize the trauma Americans suffered by that agression - I have really a problem to use the term "terrorist act" as I'm convinced it was an act of war more than anything else-
It is true that Europe suffered terrorism during decades plus more wars than Americans will even never see  and when we saw the reaction after 9/11, our first thought was "hey!  if we should react like that after every attack, we would be a gigantic concentration camp".

""In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up."

I was thinking at the same sentence while reading this thread.
I don't think "the government" is to blame or to fear.  A government is an abstraction;  It is an institution.  i fear more those who belong to the government..and those who are behind.
In Germany, between the two world wars, they had many different governments - right and left - until Hitler went to power.  The policy changed drastically with Hitler.  it was not "the government" who suddenly became evil..it was the leader and the men who were into the government who were completely insane.
The same appeared in Italy before Mussolini...or in Iran before the Islamic revolution.

In the USA - and I fear it slowly becomes the same in Europe - the "government" is even not the major power in the country.  The politicians are clearly the puppets of a few big bosses,  financials and industrials from whom they get the money needed to be elected.  Those people are  behind and those are the real "government".

So when a decision such as spying the population or reducing the liberties is taken, the true question is  : who will make a profit with it?
Find the answer is finding who inspired it.

The left wing has spoken

[femft]

I don't like it that big brother can watch us anywhere but if they wanna watch me and my girl on tis site I will be first to give them my computer me and my girl don't have anything to hide. she has my password on here and is interested in this type stuff and its our thing. maybe the govt has a female that is into this and that's why they want to track us..

[Jonica]

Big deal.  Means more views for my stories....

[DoYouKnowWhoIAm?]

I AM AN UNDERCOVER CIA AGENT.  WHOOPS. 

Call me naive, but I had no idea you could put words into other peoples mouths like that here at the forum.

To be honest, that worries me more than the possibility of being spied on by the CIA or MI5, at least while I'm here. I mean, do they really care what I'm getting up to in Catfightland?

Out there in The Real World though, I think it is a cause for concern. We may be paranoid, but that doesn't mean they aren't after us.

[rappin]

I hate the fact that ALL governments monitor internet activities.

[femalewrestlingchannel]

Friends around the world, please don't blame me. 

I voted for Ron Paul.      One of my favorite people in the world is Judge Andrew Napolitano.   Another great writer you might not be aware of on these matters is Kane of the WWE.   

If you know their values, you easily know mine. 

[LoveSexyJobbers]

How do you know the government is lying to you ---- Their lips are moving -- ba bump bump --- can care less about the government , they do their thing & I do mine , I am a bonafide law abiding citizen & one of the good guys on this earth , doing my taxes , you want to contribute to the re-election fund ? -- NOOOOOOOOOOOO -- they do what they do & if they are going spy on us , at least they can find a way to contribute to the site , have their secretaries wrestle for us or something 

[Gaelle]

the politicians STILL do not seem to grasp that Human being DO NOT & WILL NOT suffer ANY form or level of tyranny for any length of time, ESPECIALLY when we have been accustomed to some level of Freedom of thought, speech and/or behaviour.

I recently watched a tv show about the raising of Hitler and I learned something I didn't know..but which, thinking about it, is not surprising...in the 30's, Hitler praised the USA for having the best system of the world.  He was referring at the tyranny the Black people suffered there and the American apartheid system inspired him - among many other influences - for his criminal policy about  the Jews.

Germany, Italy and Spain knew democracy before falling  into the fascist trap.  Iran had a kind of democracy before voting for the islamic dictature;  look at Turkey today.  It is a laïc state which is in danger to fall into a muslim dictature too.  Lybia and Tunisia fought against a 30 years dictature just to fall into the hands of muslims extremists.
in Belgium, we suffered two occupations last century and still 30% of the Flemish people vote for fascists and nationalist parties.  Same in France where 15% of the people vote for extreme right...Should I give more examples?
i'm not sure your affirmation is correct..sadly.