America’s Faustian
Bargain
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