Volunteer Prisoners (Living in the Global Panopticon - Part 1) (2/2) By Ann R Kist

(1/2), (2/2).

Have you ever considered this. That in a time of crisis, of there being a suicide bomber on every street corner, somewhat like the media portray the world we live in now. That in such a time, the government will have the power to access every last shred of information that may help them to win the (non-existent) war on terrorism. That Orwellian perpetual war, that is a piece of marketing genius, designed to keep us controlled and afraid at all times.

What I'm saying is. Now, here and now, not in the future, right here, right now. The government can access this seemingly boring, of no interest to anyone database of supposedly random shopping habits. They will see that you are a veggie, and so one of those activist trouble causing types. A bloody liberal-minded sort who goes on anti-war protests. They see that you bought mainly Fair Trade, which makes you a bit of an agitator, you know the kind? The type who may potentially harbour a little brown person, because they feel 'sorry' for them. Bloody sympathisers! You know what we did with types like you during the war?!

On top of all that, buying that Fair Trade Zapatista Coffee. Well that makes you a god-dam pinko revolutionary in anyone's book. I'm surprised that as soon as you walked out of the organic community-café-left-wing-book-shop-and-communal-meeting-space where you bought the coffee, that a small gang of men-in-black didn't gun you down in a hail of bullets. How you've survived this long is a miracle, you being such a hardcore anarchist and all. (Obviously 'anarchist' being the last insult of all.)

I know that now, as you've read though this, you've developed a slight sardonic grin. Either you're smiling because you think you are (stupidly) not one of the liberal wankers I have just described. Or you are smiling because you think you can actually beat the system, and surf happily between Zapatista Coffee and Maccy D burgers, without causing too much of a wave and drawing attention to yourself. OR, you are one of those men-in-black laughing you head off, having intercepted this article, thinking how fucking right all this bullshit rant has been, and how you can't wait to nail that namby-pamby vegan hippy.

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