What defines us as Canadians…

Canadian comedian, blogger and satirist Rick Mercer does not hide his opposition to the government’s plans to grab all the marbles and change the rules of the game:  legally spying on ALL Canadians 24 hours a day.  Legislation is already prepared to allow our spy organization (CSIS) have what they could have only dreamed about 25 years ago: the right to snoop in the private business of innocent, law abiding citizens without  so much as a judge’s permission.

In the present tense, this means that your hard drive will not belong to you, but instead will become the government’s private property.  Everything you do with it, all the mail you send and receive, all the private information you keep on it, every site you visit and more can and will be copied.  More over, all of this can be used as evidence against you (or those with whom you communicate) should you step over the line between what is legal and what is in the interest of the government.

The government wants you to believe that this is for your own good.  Most critics see Big Brother.  I see even worse: an already cowboy-like spy organization really getting out of control.

Some have written to me saying that they have nothing to hide.  I think that is FINE! Most Canadians are law abiding, rational humans. But why outlaw privacy?

I HAVE A COMPROMISE:  if the government wants to see my inner world, then I would happily barter  (!).  LET ME SEE  MY GOVERNMENT’S DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS in exchange for seeing mine…

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmW1o6rzI7g]