America’s Faustian Bargain

America’s Faustian Bargain

 A little more than a decade ago

They made you an offer

Of unlimited communication possibilities

And channeled notoriety.

 

In the deal

You could talk to the world,

Express your thoughts

And be heard.

 

The package allowed

You to promote and advertise.

It allowed you to stigmatize

Anonymously.

 

Connect with friends,

Voyeur others

Made easy by new

Technology.

 

In return for this power

You gave them

Your soul

With personal information and location.

 

The ride was great

For many a year.

The progress you made

Was unbelievable.

 

“What could be better,

What could top this?"

You began

To think.

 

Unsuspecting the collection

Of all your activity,

The digital bargain

Began weighing heavily

 

On your sudden inability

To undo some

Misdirected viewings

And online sayings.

 

You were ridiculed,

A reputation damaged.

What’s wrong with

This formerly good bargain?

 

Once the hero

Of one million followers,

You are now the stooge

Of the same million.

 

The big boys,

The big tech guys

Effectively reduced you

To a little boy.

 

You don’t exist.

You never did.

There is no record

Of you.

 

Much worse,

Your mistakes linger

And float eternally

In cyberspace.

 

But now there is

A national malaise

Incumbent upon millions

Of national individuals 

Trapped in the bargain.

 

Censorship, cancellation

And freedom’s usurpation

Reside in Faust’s domain

Forever.

 

Grand power in private,

Business has gained

Dominion over the people

And national governance.

 

The bargain

Was no bargain at all.

It was to your succumbing

To a false deity.

 

Giving your soul

To big tech or the state

Ended your comfortable life

And you did not know it,

Until now.

 

“Sheep’s clothing,”

Ever heard that phrase?

It is freedom’s closing.

You gave the wrong God praise.

 

© 2021 Worth E Norman Jr