What can happen when the government has a database on everyone? By Hal M. Brown Am I paranoid worrying that the government can become privvy to everything I think and do?

 

I saw this on MSNBC yesterday…

… and then looked at the NY Times article whch was being discussed here (subscription).

Several worst case scenarios occurred to me should Trump decide to go beyond using the data by combining all federal databases which are collected to round up immigrants, but also ways the government could use the vast amount of information they have access to in order to enable them to go after all of his enemies.

Consider how much information is accessible about everyone in the country here legally or not. You would have to be living totally off the grid not to have information about you and your way of life in numerous computer databases. Think about their combining them all and using AI to decide who would be on an enemies list and then taking action to do things to make them, this means you and me, less of a threat. 

In effect, they could disarm you.

They could do this literally by confiscating your firearms since, unless you got them illegally, they have a record of this. If you’re a journalist, even a lowly Substacker like me, they could raid my house and grab up my laptop. That would disarm me, at least temporarily until I could buy a new one. Then again, before I could even post a new Substack they could be ready to get it since unless I paid cash they could be waiting for me before I got home from the Apple Store.

They could even harass you to drive you as crazy as possible. 

I don’t want to come across as paranoid (okay, I already sound paranoid), but I’ll share a personal example. I am still trying to convince the IRS to stop sending me notices that I owe them several thousand dollars which I already paid them.

I’ve removed identifying information in the picture below, but who wants to keep getting letters like this when you’ve paid the IRS and have the bank record to prove they cashed the check? I am lucky that my accountant is working to deal with this, but other people don’t have a professional to help if it happens to them.

Here’s another personal example. If you have an automobile theft deterrent like I do, they not only can follow where you go on a map but can see what you are seeing. Below is where I went yesterday.

If they, the omnipresent “they,” want to make your life more miserable than they already have, the government has ways to do it. Just knowing how much they know about you can make you feel vulnerable.

I have a friend who has posted about a dozen political Substacks (not my Substack friend Sabrina Haake, a major Substacker who doesn’t flinch at danger) but an in-person friend who told me that she hestitates when she posts about politics worrying about how this could get her in trouble. I assured her that I will be sent to El Salvador well before she is. I am not sure today’s Substack will be reassuring to her. 

They, again the “they” that is watching us, have ways to see what you buy, where you go out to eat, what you do for enterainment, who you follow on social media and what you post there, and who your online friends are and what they post. 

In essence, they can discern much of what you think about and what you believe. They haven’t planted chips in your brain though Musk promotes his Neurolink which if, something like this was mandated, we would end up with a science (non-fiction) dystopia where Big-Bigger-Biggest Brother would not only know whether you were thinking treasonous thoughts, but when a small explosive was added to the chip the government could end your life.

How scared is it realistic to be?

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Fuckshitratdamn, what the hell is going on in the Trump administration with appointments like Thomas Fugate?

 

Who is the 22 yr. old named Thomas Fugate and why should you care? Read this ProPublic article by Hannah Allam:

The article begins:

When Thomas Fugate graduated from college last year with a degree in politics, he celebrated in a social media post about the exciting opportunities that lay beyond campus life in Texas. “Onward and upward!” he wrote, with an emoji of a rocket shooting into space.

His career blastoff came quickly. A year after graduation, the 22-year-old with no apparent national security expertise is now a Department of Homeland Security official overseeing the government’s main hub for terrorism prevention, including an $18 million grant program intended to help communities combat violent extremism.

This is the Fugate dude’s LinkedIn pofile:

Welcome! I'm on a mission to create meaningful impact at the intersection of politics, policy, and public service. Having recently concluded my studies at the University of Texas at San Antonio, my journey is fueled by a deep commitment to fostering effective communication in policymaking.
Embarking on a journey in the Texas House of Representatives and the US House of Representatives, I've woven together experiences in legislative and district office settings. From amplifying policy through public relations to maintaining constituent connections, each role has shaped my understanding of the intricate threads that bind government and society.
In my government affairs role at The Heritage Foundation, I helped produce meaningful work with events, services, and analysis relating to members and the inner workings of Congress.
Armed with a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Law from The University of Texas at San Antonio, I've honed my skills, earning a certificate in legal studies along the way. Moreover, I've also made sure to diversify my skillset along the way, minoring in Business Administration. From my work, I graduated Magna Cum Laude, a full year early from college, debt-free. I even studied on a full-ride scholarship to study economics, for the summer, at George-Mason University.
While my time as an Archer Fellow in Washington, DC, has come to a close, the intense civic-minded learning and experiences continue to influence my perspective. Additionally, my role as a Texas Civic Ambassador involved crafting a significant service project focused on education for low-income students in Spring 2024.
At the heart of my endeavors is the Model United Nations Club, where I served as Secretary General, leading a diverse group of over 100 members. Alongside, I've dedicated time to mentorship within the Pre-Law Association, guiding aspiring legal professionals in their journey.
Throughout my time, I've also been honored to have worked for the Trump campaign, developing in-depth insight into political operations.
Passionate about fostering positive change, I am keenly interested in roles that allow me to bridge the gap between policy and community impact. My diverse experiences have equipped me with a unique perspective, and I am excited to contribute my skills, passion, and dedication to endeavors that align with my values.
Let's connect and explore ways to create lasting change together! 🌐🤝Welcome! I'm on a mission to create meaningful impact at the intersection of politics, policy, and public service. Having recently concluded my studies at the University of Texas at San Antonio, my journey is fueled by a deep commitment to fostering effective communication in policymaking. Embarking on a journey in the Texas House of Representatives and the US House of Representatives, I've woven together experiences in legislative and district office settings. From amplifying policy through public relations to maintaining constituent connections, each role has shaped my understanding of the intricate threads that bind government and society. In my government affairs role at The Heritage Foundation, I helped produce meaningful work with events, services, and analysis relating to members and the inner workings of Congress. Armed with a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Law from The University of Texas at San Antonio, I've honed my skills, earning a certificate in legal studies along the way. Moreover, I've also made sure to diversify my skillset along the way, minoring in Business Administration. From my work, I graduated Magna Cum Laude, a full year early from college, debt-free. I even studied on a full-ride scholarship to study economics, for the summer, at George-Mason University. While my time as an Archer Fellow in Washington, DC, has come to a close, the intense civic-minded learning and experiences continue to influence my perspective. Additionally, my role as a Texas Civic Ambassador involved crafting a significant service project focused on education for low-income students in Spring 2024. At the heart of my endeavors is the Model United Nations Club, where I served as Secretary General, leading a diverse group of over 100 members. Alongside, I've dedicated time to mentorship within the Pre-Law Association, guiding aspiring legal professionals in their journey. Throughout my time, I've also been honored to have worked for the Trump campaign, developing in-depth insight into political operations. Passionate about fostering positive change, I am keenly interested in roles that allow me to bridge the gap between policy and community impact. My diverse experiences have equipped me with a unique perspective, and I am excited to contribute my skills, passion, and dedication to endeavors that align with my values. Let's connect and explore ways to create lasting change together! 🌐🤝

This is from LinkedIn:

Look at the photo below which he posted and you can imagine him thinking of the time when he can assume the crown of King of America:

Do you feel safer now knowing that this dude is supposed to be protecting you from homegrown terrorism?

Okay, now that you know about him and his new job, put this in the context about everything going on both with Trump personally, and within his adminstration. We have this president who madly (in both senses of the word) blasts out vicious and somestimes delusional social media missives about his enemies and delights in the outrage when he picks totally unqualified and incompetent people like Pete Hegeseth and RFK Jr. to be on the Cabinet. Fugate, who I doubt Trump had anything to do with selecting for this or could identify him in a lineup, seems to fit at least the into the unqualified category. His competence has yet to be demonstrated. It is difficult to see how he will be able to have any credibility with the seasoned experts he will be supervising. This is from ProPublica:

“Maybe he’s a wunderkind. Maybe he’s Doogie Howser and has everything at 21 years old, or whatever he is, to lead the office. But that’s not likely the case,” said one counterterrorism researcher who has worked with CP3 officials for years. “It sounds like putting the intern in charge.”

If he is a Doogie Houser, who he bares a passing resemblance to, he might be able to pull it off. In fact, he could prove to be an excellent leader of this vital, albeit small, program.

Compared to other members of the Trump adminstration this appointment shouldn’t have you waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat because you thought you heard someone outside your house or apartment. This is because there are members the Trump administration like Stephen Miller, Pam Bondi, Kristi Noem, Tom Homan, Kash Patel, and others who might score high on the MMPI Pd scale:

Trump has embarked on a campaign to discredit President Biden. I’m surprised it hasn’t already been dubbed Auto-pen-gate. See:

The true scandal worthy of the suffix “gate” is “Trumpgate” and it would have numerous subgates with prefixes like fascists, insanity, and incompetent toady.

I hope I live long enough to see history tell the truth about what Trump tried, and failed, to do to destroy our democracy. A title of the book could be “Trump’s Adminstration Was One Giant Gate,” or just “Trumpgate” with an appropiate subtitle.

In the distant future we could have articles like these with different photos of historians or journalists only about Trumpgate.

If it is a true journalist’s scoop at the level of Watergate the only thing I can think of is a Manchrian Candidate kind of story where it is proven beyond any doubt that stories about Krasnov, the code name conspiracy theorists say was given to Trump when he was recruited to be a KGB agent, were true. See Google search.

The ultimate irony, considering the topic of this Substack, would be that Thomas Fugate and his group actually discovered this and were responsible to bringing Trump down. That is, of course, a phantasmagorical flight into wishful thinking.

Recommended reading for today: 

Historian Federico Finchelstein: Trump's "abuse of the law fits an old autocratic pattern" We are in the middle of Trump’s radicalization towards fascism, Chauncey DeVega’s Salon column.

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Some Republicans say they didn't read the Big Beautiful Bill. Now they have buyers remorse. How many didn't read Trump correctly when they became his toadies and have buyer's remorse? By Hal M. Brown

 

We see that Marjorie Tayor Greene says she didn’t read the Big Beautiful Bill and now is speaking out against parts of it. Other Republicans apparently didn’t read it either. See “Marjorie Taylor Greene admits she also didn’t read the GOP megabill she voted for.”

Slowly but surely, a growing number of House Republicans are learning more about the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” they voted for — and they're unimpressed.

Not reading a major bill before you vote on it is one thing. How about not accurately reading who a president is, and what he intends to do before you support him? It isn’t as if it was a mystery. Everyone knew about Trump’t personality, but what he planned to do once elected was also spelled out in detail in Project 2025. (Read: 'Literally running the show': Shock report reveals full reach of Project 2025”)

Today Thom Hartmann wrote “The Normalization of Evil: We Thought We Were Free.”

Note the subtitle: “How ordinary Americans became numb to authoritarianism—step by chilling step.”

I recommend that you read the Substack and as you do ask yourself how many Republican members of Congress became numb to authoritarianism and still are. They didn’t read the Big Beautiful Bill, but how many didn’t “read” Donald Trump? Did they not “read” that he fully intended to become the dictator of a fascist country? Trump has picked enablers to serve under him so they endorse this, but members of Congress were elected. Do some of them have buyer’s remorse. If they were, as Hartmann put it, numb to pending authoritarianism then, are they still numb to the Trumpian authoritarianism that has taken over the country?

The same question can be asked about the Republican members of the Supreme Court with the possible exception of Thomas and Alito. They may want a fascist country run by a dictator. but do Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett?

There are certainly many American’s who want us to be a fascist country led by Donald Trump but they are not the majority. Some polls show his support at about 48%. We don’t know how many of those supporters really comprehend what it would be like to live under fascist rule. It is difficult to figure this out from polls like this:

My sense is that as long as a person believes they will be in the safe and favored group, the in group, and they have no empathy or compassion for the unfavored and endangered out group, they will support Trump’s fascistic regime.

The crucial question involves how many people want the United States to have, to quote Hartmann, normalized evil. Will enough members of Congress, the judiciary, the military, and citizenry rebel against this to stop Trump’s Hitlerian-like blitzkrieg to take over the county and impose evil fascist rule?

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