Have you ever dropped a piece of trash in public and forgotten to pick it up? It happens sometimes but if you lived in China, that piece of trash on the sidewalk would put you one step closer to second-class citizenship. This is because the Chinese government uses data tracking, facial recognition, and widespread surveillance for their “social credit system.” They reward those who follow the communist dictates and punish those who don’t. The compliant are given special treatment regarding finances, education, and social privileges. Those who are rated low don’t get those privileges. This is what totalitarianism does. It’s a violation of our ideal of equal treatment under the law. And it’s a stark reminder of what makes America so special.