In his novel, 1984, George Orwell quite ominously and infamously coined the phrase "Big Brother". The idea was of a benevolent figurehead controlling our lives because he knew what was best for us.

Although Orwell's ideas carried on into common speech, the idea was not solely his. Many authors, notably Aldous Huxley and Thomas Moore presented the utopian ideal, the concept of a government where everybody lived under a government that told them what to do and how to live their lives. In every instance, the vision presented was frightening.

Up until two years ago, I truly thought the fears of a "big brother" government were simply the excesses of my mind's paranoiac tendencies. It was then that I found out that I had not been cautious ENOUGH.

Since then, I have dedicated a fair portion of my time to documenting government abuses in certain areas. I take great care to examine the suspicious (no, I do NOT believe the US government had anything to do with 9/11...although there are some questions that I, as others, would like to see answered...but I digress), and I work hard to put the situation into context.  But there are far too many cases to ignore altogether.

A recent news story covering the local CPS underscored my point. The lady stated that, EVEN IF YOU AREN'T VERY SURE that abuse is going on, you are supposed to call your local CPS if you see anything in your neighbor's behaviour towards their kids. Children are encouraged to turn in any illicit behaviour from their parents (and taught this in government schools).

A nearby school district is even considering mandatory exercise for 30 minutes a day. Although I don't see ENCOURAGING exercise as a bad thing, it's the whole "mandatory" issue that makes me shudder. It doesn't seem unreasonable to foresee a future legislature mandating daily calisthenics for adults (especially in light of California's reputed new legislation for voluntary sterilization of the obese).

The fears of a wayward government are no longer the product of a paranoid mind. The government is growing more and more intrusive, and, most frighteningly, it is doing so with the concent of the people. Too many, it seems, have read 1984 as a blueprint rather than as a warning, and our freedoms are quickly being forfeit.

It is time that responsible citizens DO something instead of standing back and watching it happen. In my opinion, the change can ONLY come about if we begin systematically removing "big two" candidates from office and replacing them with freedom loving individuals.