> there is no one working a programming job that can't afford to "put food on the table" -- independent of their employer.

Okay, see, you are just wrong there. I personally know about 5 people who are crazy good programmers (systems programming and all) who have been unable to find jobs. They say they have trouble finding employment because of their age... time commitments (can only put in 40 hours, need to take care of kids), etc. It absolutely is the fact that some of these people take these jobs because they pay competitively and meet with their requirements. I know this because I personally know some of them and they told me exactly this.

I'm sorry, but while I can believe that they may have some hard choices to make (moving somewhere else, accepting a pay cut, having to go back to school, taking out debt), it doesn't excuse the damage they're doing to society. People like the ones you're describing do have options, they may just not be ones they like as much.

Tell those people they are contributing to the downfall of modern, civilized society, by participating in a secret state within the state, over which no average citizen has any control. They are creating a neo-feudalistic society which, in just a few generations, may well be the motivation for severe violent uprising and revolt from within. No society that ever perpetuated a "surveillance class" ever survived long. Instead of more repressive technology, give them a dose of history.