If You're Not Doing Anything Wrong

Would you, if you had the chance, implant a tracking device in your son? they asked me.

No, I said instantly without even stopping to think.

But you would always know where he was, they said. He would be safe. You would know every step he took.

They were a bit confused about my dislike of new tollways where you can only pay with a tracking device installed in your car tied to a credit card account. I don't like the notion of my car being tracked.

If you're not doing anything wrong, what is the problem with that? they asked.

That question always has a muted sinister tone to it. If you're not doing anything wrong. What, are you planning something?

So you tell me, if every computer you used, every keystroke you typed, every phone call you made, every letter you wrote, every email you sent, every chat you had, every message you left, every thing you bought, every trip you took, every street you crossed, every web site you surfed to, every drug you bought at the drugstore, every book you got at the library, every word you dared to speak out loud. If all those things could be recorded in the name of order and safety, would you want them to be? Would you want it to be required?

And will the watchers let us watch them, if they're not doing anything wrong?

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