I didn't say "trust government", I said "trust people". Do you trust your neighbours? Do you attend meetings or organizations with like-minded people? The surveillance state is most powerful when everybody sits at home afraid to go out. If you get out in public and organize with people and talk about these issues, you'll find strength and courage in your neighbours.

The #1 goal of the Neoliberal elite class is to crush the will of people like you. If you've already given up then you might as well be dead to them; they don't even need to spy on you at that point! If, on the other hand, you're out in public and organizing in large numbers then what can they do? You can force them to engage with the issues on your terms.