Thanks and yes the links are helpful especially the last vagabond one as I have heard a lot of talk about the infamous 'you will own nothing and be happy' quote...but never until today knew the source and context- as the link explains the author was someone working for the WEF and they explained the scenario they wrote was not to describe an ideal future but a potential future given current trends- Yes in every instance I have heard this quote previously it has been taken or interpreted as meaning what the WEF intends...a gross misunderstanding of the context and intent of the author. Yes I agree too on the link about the dangers of modern surveillance increasingly intruding upon our privacy- this seems obvious given how dependent we have become on online applications and the proliferation of AI and surveillance cameras/IOT/etc. While I agree with the concerns about invasion of our privacy and state/corporate surveillance I see no clear evidence of a conspiracy to enforce a dystopian future- maybe there is such a conspiracy but where is the proof of it? What I do see is a political system that is increasingly dysfunctional in western democracies- citizens feel disinfranchised while powerful corporates sponsor and own our so called representatives and instead of representing us they represent the corporates who fund them. If we want to keep our democracies we need to get involved and get corporate funding taken out of the system. A difficult job yes, but if its not done our democracies will continue to malfunction and probably will die. And yes I understand why people want to opt out and go offgrid- I am doing this too, but not everyone is able to do that. Given what evidence is available it seems to me the greatest threat to liberal western democracy now is its collapse and the rise of autocracies like Putin and China. The west seems hugely divided, mired in individualism and lack of unity. We have demons within and despots without. We do need to be united in fighting back on both fronts. For me some tools are Linux- I have not used corporate spyware Microsoft or Apple for 20 years. I use android only for a few limited applications. Want to get a Linux driven phone but have not yet been able to achieve it. Bitcoin- take out my savings from the rentseeking bankers who are the prime hijackers of our democracies. Live simple- I grow most of my own food and adopt a voluntary poverty lifestyle of simplicity. Active in politics to pressure for change. most politicians in my country get most of their funding from corporates but there are still some who want to work for the people- I try to support them but its hard- the culture of believing in and participating in democracy seems to be dying- this is where I despair for the future. Seems like many politicians who might have started with good intent get owned by corporate sponsors...because support from citizens is not there anymore.

Good links, thanks for the assistance ;-)