I want you all to listen to a recent episode from Alternative Radio

I heard a very interesting presentation by Alfred McCoy on "The United States of Surveillance."

This was broadcast on my local Public Radio station on Nov 30th.  So, that's a week behind the posted schedule on their website.  You can now get their shows for free.  You can subscribe to their podcast. I did, but this only give me their Nov 9th show.  But, if you subscribe to their free podcast you'll hear this show in two weeks.  Or you can pay $16 dollars for a CD to be mailed to you.  Or you can pay $5 and download the MP3 now.

Here's the description from Alternative Radio

The telescreens in Orwell's "1984" monitoring Winston Smith are crude devices compared to 21st century technology but they make the point. Big Brother is watching your every move. Today, the weapons of surveillance in the hands of state agencies have grown enormously in scope and sophistication. Basic rights are in jeopardy. Invasions of privacy such as warrentless wiretapping, intercepting cell phone messages and reading email are increasing. When those electronic interventions don't work there are always the old reliable agent provocateurs, framing and planting of evidence. In fighting the so-called war on terror, surveillance is one of the biggest growth industries in the United States. There are always new threats. Turn the cameras on and your liberties off.

Alfred McCoy

Alfred McCoy is professor of history at the University of Wisconsin. He is the author of the classic "The Politics of Heroin: CIA Complicity in the Global Drug Trade." For "Closer than Brothers," his pioneering book on the impact of CIA torture on the Philippine military, he was awarded the Goodman Prize. He is also the author of "A Question of Torture" and "Policing America's Empire."