The Privacy of Choice

You would think by now we would have learnt to live in peace and harmony and in balance with mother nature...but nope! Wherever one looks there is trouble and no matter how one tries to live a peaceful life there is always a fly in the ointment intent on provoking a fuss. Indeed, it becomes more difficult to actually maintain some kind of control over ones life and destiny as control and power over the people of this planet becomes the intent of commerce and the state.

Freedom of the individual and self determination are areas much of interest to the greedy profit mad companies that intrude on our every day life. From computer snooping, data selling to constant advertising and brain washing the marketing gurus and media companies are at us 24/7 trying to sign us up through fair means or foul. Recently I was signed up to a power company without even requesting to be so. Erroneous transfer they call it. The case now rests with Offgen.

Similarly with the state one can be registering to vote and find ones name and address have not just been logged to vote, but become an item of data with a price to be had. I recently trawled a website and found out all sorts of things about myself. Some true, some false and all rather concerning considering I volunteered none of it.

Self determination was once deemed to be the essence of personal freedom and I for one miss it greatly. Privacy now is deemed a cover "if you have nothing to hide" is the constant rejoinder to anyone wishing to snoop on ones privacy and a bovine excuse to pry, frequently used as a pretext to have a good root around in someone life. The mere fact that everyone has something to hide and a right to do so escapes the people wishing to have a look around in ones life until that is the compliment is returned and it is they who are subject to the spotlight of the snooper..

Alas as far as the security services are concerned I can see the point to greater control being given to the state over the citizens it protects. But how often is that scrutiny a pretext to gather information simply to exercise greater control over us. Checks and balances with over sight committees may be extent, but are they? There is always a nagging doubt.

It was with this in mind that today I arranged my own funeral. No service, no family, just cremate and ring a person to come and collect the ashes.. Simple and no fuss. Also, remarkably refreshing to be able to have control of one aspect of ones existence.. If only briefly and ironically without being.............erm.....there!