The average voter has always had an extremely limited understanding of what their government is doing, and demagogues? How old do you think that word is? This i

The average voter has always had an extremely limited understanding of what their government is doing, and demagogues? How old do you think that word is? This is not something new. I agree that the mass surveillance systems are a problem, but that's mostly because it enables greater control in the future, not because that control is in place today. It's also not unprecedented - the Stasi had a more comprehensive surveillance network than anything in place today. All that said, I completely agree with the necessity of greater privacy protections. I don't think you are completely grasping the concept of the 'bargain' you were responding to, though. We voluntarily exchange some individual rights for collective security and prosperity all the time. Basically, you have the right to leave the protection of the State. When you do that, you get all your rights back, but the State has the right to declare war on you. It usually doesn't work out, because you're back in the state of being able to keep and hold whatever you yourself can protect from all comers.