Pentagon Plan: Super Database will track citizens

[antryg]

Anything that makes it harder for the govt. to keep us under watch and control is good. Yes I want security. Yes I am against terrorism. Yes I am against a few people in Washington deciding they know what is best and good for me. Having freedom entails some danger and risks.

Even if every govt. employee shows perfect sensitivity and compassion, the wisdom of Solomon, and the legal expertise of a Supreme Court Justice; that won't be true of hackers.

The Pentagon and DOD have been hacked before and I'm sure it will happen again. Can you imagine what a virus could do to a central data base? If govt. records suddenly show that you deserted in WW2, killed JFK, and haven't paid taxes in 18 years, how long do you want to sit in jail until it gets straightened out?

Imagine if Poindexter decides that changing your records would be good for the country. Misguided dissent of govt. policy, even by honest citizens, could harm the nation. For the good of the country we might need to sacrifice a few innocents. This rationale has been used before.

[skywalker]

It is interesting that when Ashcroft has cleared the way to get personal info about people in connection to the War On Terrorism, he continues to block access to the records of gun purchases.

Listen here: http://www.npr.org/programs/now/index.html
Pick: Critics: Terrorists Manipulate Loopholes in U.S. Gun Laws

I find it odd that the Government wants to watch what books we buy or check out of the library.

A book is by far a more dangerous weapon in the hands of a fanatic than a gun, especially if it's a hardcover.

Mark

[Kaltia]

I KNEW I WASN'T PARANOID! THEY REALLY ARE WATCHING ME!

[Cloudbringer]

Originally posted by MagiK: Anyone notice, that all this information is already available to them, and all they have to do is get a court order and it is theirs for the taking. The only real difference between the system NOW and the system under this new database, is that instead of calling 97 different places to get the information, they go to one single place. I'm not promoting this database, I have not yet done enough research to form a sound opinion. I am just saying, that if you think that info isn't available to them already, you are deluding yourself people. This is exactly the same issue, every one had a bit ago when tthe idea to give the FBI permission to sit in a Mosque if they suspect it is being used for terrorist recruiting. They always could, they just couldn't use the evidence gathered there in court. All I really see this doing is making the government agency more efficient...which is a scary thing in and of itself. Well thats my take on the issue.

Hmmm...the really scary thing.....

Originally posted by Leonis: [QBI think citizens trying to alter or protest against anything they are uncomfortable with is a good thing and occasionally gets results. The key is not to get paranoid about it. As Magik said - the info has long been available to those who know how to get it. Remember - all that info would be very handy for spys and terrorists to get their hands on easily too, so you can guarantee they're not going to auction it off on ebay or anything. Depends whether you think your govt. is a friend or an enemy? Isn't that a loaded question? [img]smile.gif[/img] IMHO, as self serving as governments/politicians seem to be right now, they still want the populace to be comfortable. They don't want to impose a police state or thet'll end up with revolution...[/QB]

is that I am in general agreement with both MagiK and Leonis on the same day!

Seriously, though, this info has indeed been around for decades. Any good scam artist can get your identity by sending away for a new driver's license or birth certificate these days. Identity theft is a major concern in NYS lately.

How tough is it to track your spending? Not very. All those stores with special 'cards' to get a deal on a bottle of shampoo or whatever the weekly sale is are used for just that purpose. So CVS (a pharmacy for those who don't have them) and major grocery chains ALREADY track your spending. My CVS claims it's to be able to tell what kinds of things you buy so they can send you coupons that you'd find useful....I laughed myself silly over that one. It's to track your purchases, get demographic info and make their SALES and MARKETING decisions and then if they happen to think of it, they send you a coupon for ten cents off a toothbrush you don't even use..... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Bardan the Slayer]

What would worry me is that I have seen the absurd level of government/administrative incompetence. The number of times I have found places that have false information about me due to an administrative ****-up is ridiculous, and I'm only 23 years old! It's scary to think that some wrong piece of info could end up with a person being flagged as suspect, a danger, a possible terrorist/fraudster/murderer or whatever due to some hungover clerk filing the wrong bit of paper one day.