To the Citizens of the United States
We have bear witness to many events within the time of the 45th President of the United States.
The many events that have transpired take on meanings for us citizens seemingly dependent upon what ideology, faction, or encampment one has aligned themselves with. For this reason, I write to address the division of the nation in an effort to showcase the powers granted of the government no longer belong to the people nor the government but rest in the hands of but a few private and for-profit corporations.
We have all seen over the course of the years leading up to 2021 the consolidation of technology into the hands of larger corporations and the extinction of competitors across all sectors of technology. Our countries data and information, and to the greater extent our world, now flows through the gates of but just a few. Companies like Amazon, Google, Facebook, their subsidiaries, and cohorts. AWS alone hosts or controls the flow of over 40% of the surface web. Facebook has over 2.7 billion active monthly users. Google controls the keys to another 40% of the surface web. This, taken into account with its subsidiaries and cohorts, amounts to more than just a meager percentage of influence and control.
This current state of affairs did not start out this way. Amazon was founded in 1994, Google in 1998, and Facebook in 2004. The controlling parties within our country are not even 30 years old. This means that within just one generation our information and data have been consolidated under monopolies.
I request everyone to once again read their first Amendment rights within the Constitution.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
There are many protections afforded within this Amendment. The part in which I would like everyone to focus on is: “or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press“.
Prior to the events that took place within our nations Capitol on January 6th, 2021 I would propose that we the citizens of this nation, were akin to frogs slowly boiling in the waters of technocratic tyranny with the temperature just warm enough to understand the future dangers of staying in too long, but not hot enough to take action. We understood the situation but had not reached the point in which we collectively agreed that it was time to take immediate and necessary remedies in an effort to not boil to death.
Now having witnessed the events of January 6th in person at our nations Capitol and the subsequent actions of the controlling entities over our surface web sources I implore you to come to the conclusion that I have.
In order to unify and heal our country we must break free the chains of monopolies and control that are forced upon us by our own exchanges of convenience and desires.
Publius
These companies are fueled by our actions. With every dollar spent and convenience had we have traded more and more of our capability to object to them. Every order on Amazon, every post on Facebook, and every search on Google has forged one more link in the chains of control. These modern amenities have financed the bonds in which we find ourselves today. We also find that after years being loyal consumers and patrons these companies have turned on all citizens by turning on a group in which it has given a label and judgement. Who other then ourselves can we blame for the current state of control within our country?
I would also argue that it is in part our congress and legislative bodies that have helped create our current situation and therefore are responsible for the creation of the consolidation of power of these private companies over the citizens of this nation.
You can commit injustice by doing nothing.
Marcus Aurelius
Over the course of a few decades, we have seen the abilities of these companies to influence our elected officials and representative bodies grow into the ability to wield influence for the benefit of the companies over the electors. This ability to lobby and purchase legislation has corroded the foundations of representation. Although Congress does not control what these tech companies do as corporations, they are responsible for the infringement of our rights through inaction. Under what scenario is it in the best interest of the citizens of this country to allow for the controlling body of digital town squares to whimsically and arbitrarily banish or promote speech? Should it not be of National Security that the Commander in Chief of our nation is allowed to connect to the citizens on the platforms utilized by the majority of them? Is it not the fault of our Congress for not having broken up the monopoly and control of our citizens’ information and ability to communicate?
If we do not act quickly and with great speed to break the companies that control over 80% of our web traffic, e-commerce, streaming sources, governmental contracts, and digital town squares the roots of division amongst the citizens of this country with sow deeper than that of our founding liberties and rights and will bear the fruit of a replacement to our Republic.
If political and revolutionary violence is to be avoided and the United States of America to remain in fact united the citizens must agree to a common enemy. That enemy is the one we have given our rights, and the keys to our liberties, unto. The echo chambers of factions that are being set up and suppressed by the same entities are by no accident but design. To further divide our country via our capabilities to communicate, commerce, and engage with allows for greater control over us.
Without the ability to communicate with each other, while protecting our first amendment rights for all citizens, we will allow for any actor(s) to establish vacuums of power and influence. As our town squares and open forums have moved into the digital age we must act accordingly to protect and promote our rights within the newly formed arenas.
Before the citizens of this country turn upon themselves as the enemies of the people according to each in their own eyes, we must make the effort to eradicate the new enemy of the people and establish open dialogue once more. If we truly lose our First Amendment rights I fear the only way to restore them is with more American blood being spilled on our soils.
Time is of the essence. Conduct your activities now, and until your First Amendment right has been extinguished, calling for the removal of our new governing body, The Tech Tyrants.
PUBLIUS
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