Beware of "Big Brother"

Don't you hate it when "Big Brother" does something that's "good for you" without you even knowing about it?

Take this blog for example.  'Big Brother," the parent company I work for, urged its on air employees to purchase their own domain name and begin blogging.  So I bought http://www.markholyoak.com/ a little over a year ago.  I started slowly but soon found enjoyment in blogging about different personal, family, and professional things.  I soon realized blogging is both fun and a great way to write a "personal history" of sorts. It also gives me a forum to express an opinion of sorts, since I cannot do so while anchoring the news on the air.  I posted 15 blogs over eight months, but in September of 2010 I went to post a blog about the rescued Chilean miners and my web site disappeared.  I was confused and puzzled.  It turns out there were some "spam" problems with blogs from employees around the country so the company, before notifying any of us, wiped our blogs clean. That was five months ago.  I since had the company restore what's left, but it's a skeleton of what it once was because the graphics, photos and web links are long gone.  And that's why I have this new blog because my old one remains in corporate limbo.

"Big Brother" showed his face this past summer when the City of Missoula decided to "improve" our parking in front of the KPAX studio.  Previously, we had parking slots for 12 cars.  After the "upgrade," we had seven wider spaces including a handicapped spot with large, striped loading zones on each side of it.  Don't get me wrong, I'm all for improving access for all, but we already haved two handicapped parking spaces in our small parking lot next door.

"Big Brother" shoved his hands into the mouths and down the throats of consumers last November when The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to ban Happy Meals at McDonalds.  The reason?  It ruled meals must meet nutritional guidelines if restaurants want to include a toy with a food purchase.  Sheesh.  I think we already know what we're getting there.

"Big Brother," President Obama, spoke loudly in the health care reform debate by forcing all Americans to purchase health care coverage or face a mandatory fine.  A fine?  Really?  C'mon.

"Big Brother," President Bush, rode the emotion of the September 11th attacks to get a nation and its allies behind him before invading Iraq in one of the costliest campaigns in American military history.  Saddam Hussein may be gone, but many American families still mourn the loss of their sons to the fighting.

"Big Brother," Michelle Obama, pushed for what is now a law giving the federal government authority to regulate the food sold at schools, including vending machines.  In her words, "We can't just leave it up to the parents."  Hey Michelle, let me parent my own kids.

"Big Brother" roams the halls of our state capitols and in Washington DC.  Don't even get me started there.

So beware of "Big Brother!"  He's lurking, watching, and waiting for the chance to act and remove more of our options and freedom.  Remember, he knows what's "good for you," since you don't.