Administration Quote by William Safire
“This is not some alarmist Orwellian scenario; it is here, now, financed by $20 billion last year and $15 billion more this year of federal money appropriated out of sheer fear. By creating the means to monitor 300 million visits to the United States yearly, this administration and a supine opposition are building a system capable of identifying, tracking and spying on 300 million Americans.”
About This Quote
Source Opinion: The New York Times, 2020
Mass surveillance funded by billions monitors 300 million Americans, creating a system that tracks and spies on citizens, driven by fear.
In simple terms: Huge government spending enables extensive citizen monitoring.
Key Takeaway
Advocate for privacy protections and oversight.
Themes
privacy
surveillance
government
fear
Mood
alarmist
critical
Type
political
cautionary
When to use this quote
- legislative reform
- public awareness
- technology audits
Key Concepts
mass data collection
civil liberties
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards exist?
- How does fear shape policy?
A Different Perspective
May overstate effectiveness of surveillance.
