“The powers that be” doesn’t describe anything, nothing permanent anyway.

That statement didn't even imply permanency.

friendly leadership today is a hostile leadership tomorrow because its all a game of musical chairs.

Liberal, parliamentary democracy is not the only form of governance, nor even this divisive as you paint it you know? And even then, the parties of a liberal democracy are but splinters in the interests they themselves represent. Capitalist interests. Some of them may be "we should give them some crumbs so they quiet down" types, a social democrat minority, and others are "DEFUND EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE MILITARY AND PRIVATIZE THE REST" neoliberals, the majority nowadays. Nonetheless, they are on the same team of interests which has existed in the united states since ITS INCEPTION. Not that small of a timeframe.

The tools to violate privacy, once created, will fall into all hands. In my opinion, we will learn the easy way… or the unfortunate way.

As OP said, these are but tools and depending on who weilds them, and who you are yourself, your relation to these tools changes. It's not a universal evil, I for example would prefer a government keeping tabs on nazis and not leftists of all kinds (anarchists, communists). That's why do many Americans don't care. These tools don't hinder them, and help maintain the status quo they benefit from.

In the future I think that you should prioritize understandability and explanation over vocabulary and brevity. What use is a display of swordsmanship to a blind crowd?

Did I do good? xddd