Stopped using Gmail a long time ago and do have my own server (for mail and files).
Online banking is a different question because it’s just accessing data that were always available from a bank through a different means. I only use credit cards for online purchases or stuff that I want to track, namely business expenses. For everything else, a good, old-fashioned roll of $20’s, withdrawn from the bank works just dandy and reduces stress. I know exactly how much I’m giving the merchant and don’t have to worry about checking credit card statements for overcharges.
None of those things are giving home occupancy data or (worse!) video from the premises (Dropcam) to a bunch of corporate dirtbags like Google. There’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed, and voluntarily installing telescreens from 1984 falls on the wrong side of it.
As far as the average person supporting anti-terrorism laws, the average person is a brainwashed idiot. But even they’re getting wise. Read the comments about some of the articles about the NYPD slowdown in NYC — popular sentiment seems to be more than half in favor of less pro-active policing at this point. I’d have never thought it in the US, but sentiment is gradually swinging to be more libertarian end.
