Rethinking Edward Snowden: Unwitting Enabler of the Corporate-Libertarian-Technocratic State?

By: Michael_T_Bucci

Simply, I think the conundrum of enigmatic Edward Snowden is beginning to offer glimpses that somewhat validate an early and tentative hypothesis of mine. I supported his actions and even called him another "Paul Revere" (of sorts), a "hero"; but I also suspected his political philosophy would shape an outcome altogether undemocratic and oligarchic. Having voted for an unidentified 3rd party candidate in 2008; Ron Paul in 2012; and is now supporting Rand Paul, Snowden is promoting capitalistic/libertarian movements. Such movements, often wrapped in the flag of the "Republic", singing anthems to "Liberty" and demonizing central government, are enterprises - including those created around Snowden (e.g., Glenn Greenwald) - that exploit anti-government sentiments while whitewashing, even omitting the dangers neoliberalism poses; denouncing government surveillance but silent about the corporate side of the totalitarian state.

I share the heightened concerns of many about the Patriot Act, world-wide dragnet surveillance by America's militarized security state and, in particular, uphold those authors and analysts who correctly include mention of state-corporate partnerships, a collusion purposely being concealed and/or whitewashed by those framing the cyber privacy debate for public consumption. Generally, reporting of and fully exposing the overarching role of the "Silicon Valley Stasi" (Microsoft, Apple, Google, AOL, Facebook, et. al.) has been kept to a bare minimum by "liberty"-seeking cyber technophiles, journalists and "owners" of data arguably meant for the public domain.

Although journalist Glenn Greenwald's loyalties lie with libertarianism - a conflation of corporate neoliberalism, individualism, and independent wealth - I am not altogether certain of Mr. Edward Snowden's loyalties. He stated he voted for Ron Paul in 2012 and to the best of my knowledge has not adequately addressed the privatization and "lock-down" of his documents by libertarian billionaire Mr. Pierre Omidyar. Snowden had inferred they are for the American people. Did he think the American people are best served by private wardens and censors or by for-profit enterprises that now control his documents? Did he approve? Nor am I convinced that Mr. Snowden is a lone "rogue" actor purged of cross-loyalties to intel and/or to a section of the privatization movement now sweeping the country. My questions are speculative and do not intend to prematurely judge Mr. Snowden, his ethics or his efforts.

According to The Intercept (May 21, 2015), "NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden on Thursday praised Sen. Rand Paul’s ten-and-a-half hour takeover of the Senate floor on Wednesday in protest of the Patriot Act.... [I]n a Reddit 'Ask Me Anything' discussion [Snowden said] that Paul’s action 'represents a sea change from a few years ago, when intrusive new surveillance laws were passed without any kind of meaningful opposition or debate.'”

Well and good for Rand Paul's presidential campaign and for promoting anti-government libertarianism, but it will take the votes of a majority of Congress before a "sea change" occurs - and that is an impossibility today. It is one thing to laud Ron Paul for his anti-war positions and to laud Rand Paul for his solitary stand against the Patriot Act but it is altogether a wrong-headed thing to discount other aspects of each person that promote values inharmonious with the common health and welfare of all Americans. Trade, Industry, Business and Markets act for the benefit of profit and property, not the "common good", as Thomas Paine would define it. Ron and Rand Paul have galvanized marginal support from both rightists and leftists when interests have converged. But both men prioritize liberty in terms of markets, money and wealth casting the social contract and human equation as antitheticals to these. Today, Rand Paul is being groomed to retain margins from the Left and Right, but appear a centrist to the majority. Caveat Emptor: In his first year as junior Senator he was considered a Tea Party fanatic and an extremist. As the country moves farther Right, he will be the same person but appear to be mainstream.

My hypothesis is that Mr. Snowden, wittingly or unwittingly, is serving to facilitate the goals of neoliberal libertarianism and the corporate state, which together seek to become the government sans all agencies serving the common good, and for the confiscation ("pennies on the dollar") of all property and assets now considered "publicly owned". He is a Trojan Horse if this be true. Many fear the power and despotism of central government but fail to fear it in populist anti-government movements that could enable a corporate-libertarian-technocratic state possessing all of the same vices.

The under-30 generation barely voted last November. Today, I ask: How many millennials and followers of cult-hero Edward Snowden will succumb to identity politics in 2016 and vote into the White House one of the most anti-social, autocratic members of Congress: Rand Paul?

Who stands behind Rand Paul? Who are his sponsors? If President, who will he serve?

By Michael T Bucci

Contact: mbucci@michaelbucci.com

(c) 2015 Michael T Bucci. All Rights reserved.

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Michael T Bucci is a retired public relations executive from New Jersey presently residing in New England. His essays have appeared at The Market Oracle (UK). He is the author of nine books on practical spirituality including White Book: Cerithous.

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