Slightly off the topic of this thread but interesting nevertheless is that your final paragraph about nothing new under the sun brought me to the point of watching the PBS special concerning our involvement in World War I. Things were revealed on that show that we never learned in our history classes. And, if you think that the whole "Big Brother is watching you" concept is something new, think again. Even without the invasive technology we kneel at the feet of today, there was plenty of invasiveness at that time, and those who didn't partake of the mandated sacrifices to aid the war effort were totally ostracized even if not criminally prosecuted. And the country was every bit as divisive over the issue as it is today.