Big Brother is alive and getting bigger.

The utopian society depicted in George Orwell's classic novel “1984” was described as being run by an all-knowing government known as “Big Brother.” “Big Brother” knew all about us; the TV was equipped to watch as well as be watched. Numerous microphones and cameras monitored all movement of the citizens. There was only one source of news and information — it was “Big Brother.”

Big Brother is here.

Huge bipartisan (Republocrat) support in 1996 created a monstrous package of bills known as “Welfare Reform.” These welfare reform bills gave the government the authority to create and maintain a database, a list of our practices and activities in the following areas:

… Government access to our bank accounts and transaction history without a court order.

… Government access to utility records, i.e., records of private companies with whom we do business.

… Employment history.

… New Hire registry. All companies must send “new hire” information to the state to see if the new employee owes the state any money.

This welfare reform package also mandated that states pass laws which allow the government to do the following without a court order or any government agent or employee having to file an oath or affidavit:

… Seize bank accounts.

… Seize real property.

… Seize tax refunds.

Government also has the right to deny and revoke professional licenses without a hearing, without the privilege of having factual information presented to a jury of one's peers.

Is this the type of government our founders and forefathers had in mind when their blood was spilt rebelling against the king of England? I think not. Yet our elected representatives voted for this stuff. [U.S. Rep.] Mac Collins (Republican) voted for it, state Senator Greg Hecht (Democrat) voted for it and state Representative Kathy Cox (Republican) voted for it.

It is time for a change, but the Republocrats have a stranglehold on the elective process in this state. A bill was introduced in the last Georgia legislative session which would have made it easier for open ballot access to independents and third party candidates. This bill was soundly defeated and was voted against by Peachtree City Rep. Kathy Cox. Her reason for doing so was stated in a letter to one of her constituents in which she labeled the views of the Libertarian party as “dangerous.”

I think it is obvious from the voting records of our current reps who the most “dangerous” groups to our rights are.

Lee Hunt
Secretary, Libertarian Party of Fayette County
Fayetteville

Back to Opinion Home Page | Back to the top of the page