[maine-iac7]

He goes on to say that there's no question that earth is under constant surveillance by extraterrestrials

I theorize that they keep us under surveillance as a protective measure - not sure for us or for them and the "neighborhood."

Are they maybe assigned to watch without interfering unless we get too dangerous to ourselves and the planet we live on?

If so, and we reach for the weapons that may not only do our 'enemies' in, but do irrefutable harm to the planet that may adversely affect our solar system - maybe beyond - will they step in and stop us?

And if they step in, will it be to help us 'see the Light"? or to take action that insures we will not, in the future, ever be able to upset the applecart?

And if the latter - will they take us Conservatives outta here to a better, saner place?

[Windflier]

I theorize that they keep us under surveillance as a protective measure -

So do I.

If Earth had something of critical value to some space-faring race, and they were here, we'd already be enslaved and working in their mines and factories.

We're not, so why are they here? To study primitive humanoids? I think they would have made all the observations they needed and would have departed long ago, if it was simply curiosity.

A culture that has the ability to move through the cosmos at faster than light speed would probably find little value in our little mud ball of a planet. They wouldn't bother going to the hassle of overcoming the natives to get after some valuable mineral or such, when they could easily get the same thing from some planet without intelligent life.

No - they're most likely monitoring this place as a potential source of contamination to the "neighborhood".

[Windflier]

Are they maybe assigned to watch without interfering unless we get too dangerous to ourselves and the planet we live on?

If so, and we reach for the weapons that may not only do our 'enemies' in, but do irrefutable harm to the planet that may adversely affect our solar system - maybe beyond - will they step in and stop us?

My hunch is that they wouldn't be all that benevolent, understanding, or gentle about "stopping" us. I'm pretty sure that it would be pretty heavy-handed, but that's just me - primitive humanoid that I am.