I sense many here need to read some of the fiction as well as the nature oriented works by
Edward Abbey. Some call it seditious but others see it as reality and not burying your head in the sand about the reality and obvious direction such things will take. When was the last time info gathered on the activity of individuals was not used as a weapon to force compliance? Mccarthy is alive and well it would seem along with others of his ilk...he would be proud of many folks and their apathy.
Also for fun also read The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks (now there is a pseudonym if I ever saw one!! still a fun read) and maybe even it's sequel The Dark River then follow it up with Jennifer Government by Max Berry. While it's fun, there is also a pretty obvious parallel to the world today. In fact Abbey was almost prescient in his view of the control of the corporations over the individual and about everything.