Comments on: Finding out what’s in the bill https://habitablezone.com/2013/05/10/finding-out-whats-in-the-bill/ Sun, 19 Apr 2026 21:38:00 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2013/05/10/finding-out-whats-in-the-bill/#comment-23866 ER Sat, 11 May 2013 18:27:41 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=32471#comment-23866 But I guess whatever the corporations want to make their record keeping easier, they eventually get. After all, they take such care to prevent our information from falling into criminal hands. But that's OK. They are now selling us security services to protect our private information from illegal use. Aren't they solicitous of our privacy, welfare and convenience? As for our biometric data, I have no problem with that, any more than I do with fingerprints. Photographs or detailed physical descriptions are public information, you can look at anyone on the street and see his face. That is public data which anyone can acquire simply by inspection. The fact we can now codify, digitize, communicate and process that information is not a stretch at all. Unlike SS#'s, biometrics and related info such as DNA and fingerprints, can be used to prove you are who you say you are, but no one can steal them and raid your bank account or ruin your credit rating. This is a phony issue, like whether we should have cameras in public places. That's why they are called public places, anybody can see you. The only exception to that general rule is information which can be used by employers to deny you employment, or lump you into an uninsurable health category, or punish you commercially for a past civil crime for which you have already been punished and made to pay restitution. I find it incomprehensible that ID and privacy information should be considered taboo for government use, but any business can demand it before it sells you a good or service. I can see how you should be required to reveal private information to get a loan, or buy a house, but why should I be denied to pay cash for a hotel room, I must at least show them a credit card first. If an employer or business has the right to look at my credit rating, why don't I have the right to look at their books? As for foreigners or immigrants, I have no problem with requiring of them information which it would be improper to demand from a citizen. Once they are properly naturalized as citizens, then they can be given full privacy rights. Besides, where in the constituion does it say anything about privacy? (Except for the 4th amendment stuff about your "papers"). Remember, when that was written, most Americans were illiterate. Your "papers" probably meant documentary evidence you were plotting treason or cheating on your taxes. Our founding fathers weren't too keen on paying taxes. They were OK with rebellion, though. But I guess whatever the corporations want to make their record keeping easier, they eventually get. After all, they take such care to prevent our information from falling into criminal hands.

But that’s OK. They are now selling us security services to protect our private information from illegal use. Aren’t they solicitous of our privacy, welfare and convenience?

As for our biometric data, I have no problem with that, any more than I do with fingerprints. Photographs or detailed physical descriptions are public information, you can look at anyone on the street and see his face. That is public data which anyone can acquire simply by inspection. The fact we can now codify, digitize, communicate and process that information is not a stretch at all.

Unlike SS#’s, biometrics and related info such as DNA and fingerprints, can be used to prove you are who you say you are, but no one can steal them and raid your bank account or ruin your credit rating. This is a phony issue, like whether we should have cameras in public places. That’s why they are called public places, anybody can see you.

The only exception to that general rule is information which can be used by employers to deny you employment, or lump you into an uninsurable health category, or punish you commercially for a past civil crime for which you have already been punished and made to pay restitution.

I find it incomprehensible that ID and privacy information should be considered taboo for government use, but any business can demand it before it sells you a good or service. I can see how you should be required to reveal private information to get a loan, or buy a house, but why should I be denied to pay cash for a hotel room, I must at least show them a credit card first.

If an employer or business has the right to look at my credit rating, why don’t I have the right to look at their books?

As for foreigners or immigrants, I have no problem with requiring of them information which it would be improper to demand from a citizen. Once they are properly naturalized as citizens, then they can be given full privacy rights.

Besides, where in the constituion does it say anything about privacy? (Except for the 4th amendment stuff about your “papers”). Remember, when that was written, most Americans were illiterate. Your “papers” probably meant documentary evidence you were plotting treason or cheating on your taxes. Our founding fathers weren’t too keen on paying taxes. They were OK with rebellion, though.

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