3 DBs 1900 total words

Big Brother Responses

#1

Is the loss of personal privacy worth the price of safety? Yes, I believe it is. To me safety is something very important, it is something I personally place in high regard. Even though I am a God fearing Christian who places my trust in God, in that He will keep me safe, I know that it is still our responsibility to utilize any means necessary to uphold a standard of safety for ourselves and those around us. Therefore I don't mind the idea of the government looking through my search history on my computer or reading the texts or emails on my phone, if they believe I am some form of a threat to public safety. I have nothing to hide, and know that there is nothing to fear from a little intrusion into my privacy. I always felt it was people who have something to hide that are the ones who usually mention "Big Brother" and tell us to "Fight Against The Machine". Especially with the increased growth in technology over the past few decades I find it necessary for the government to utilize more and more means of sifting out individuals who may be involved in organized, international, or even cybercrimes (Siegel, 2019). The moment individuals place any information of "private" importance on the Internet whether it be through their computer or phone, they have given up their right to privacy, why? Because in todays world anyone can access any information you have if its placed online if they really want it. Therefore I don't believe we are creating a big brother society, I believe we are creating a safer society in an attempt to thwart threats whether they be potential acts of terrorism, or online banking theft. Siegel (2019) mentions that the cost incurred upon the global economy is no less than 400 billion dollars each year as a result of online theft. This matters because it could be anyone of us who loses money through online banking, if that were to happen wouldn't you want a government that could access your information and attempt to stop what has happened, or catch the people responsible? I know I would.

#2

Society and Safety

In the twenty-first century, the United States Government is the largest, most powerful government in the world. The individual State now operates governments larger than the federal government of the eighteenth century. Citizens have grown accustomed to relying on the government to protect them; e.g. municipal, state, county, and federal law enforcement. Don’t get me wrong, the government is necessary and God-given. Scripture explains in Romans 13:1, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities” (New King James Version), in Matthew 5:9 we read “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God” (NKJV), and finally in Romans 13:3-4 we read that rulers are “…God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil” (NKJV).

So, according to Scripture, the government is established by God for the protection of His people and His laws and commands. I believe the necessity for government is summed up best in Psalm 82:3-4 where we read, “Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked” (NKJV).

Questions and Answers

In establishing God’s plan for government, I will now answer the question in two part as follows:

Are we creating a Big Brother Society? Yes

Is the loss of personal privacy worth the price of safety? No

Discussion

Question #1: Are we creating a Big Brother society?

In their book “Privacy vs. Security,” Stalla-Bourdillon, Phillips & Ryan (2014) explain, “When faced with the choice of security or privacy, governments have increasingly chosen to forego privacy; in fact, as Snowden’s revelations have shown, they have obtained broader permissions to engage in large-scale surveillance, in which private limitations are eroded in the name of national security” (pg.v). It is my belief that there exists within twenty-first century America, a prevalence for government overreach in the name of security. Further, and conceivably worse, is the invasion of media within the lives of private citizens.

Question #2: Is the loss of personal privacy worth the price of safety?

Mills (2008) explains, “If you deny someone the necessary privacy, you deny them the capacity to express themselves to others and to associate with others. These personal values are very much part of the First Amendment freedoms” (p.28). One must ask as to what exactly we are being protected from that warrants the level of intrusion the average citizen experiences daily.