BajaNomad

Biggest Brother!

Russ - 8-20-2008 at 07:19 AM

I'm not normally offended by political things but I think that Homeland Security just went one step too far. If you're the slightest bit concerned about what info the US collects and distributes about you this article should interest you.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08...


[Edited on 8-20-2008 by Russ]

TMW - 8-20-2008 at 07:38 AM

So who cares if they count the number of times you cross the border? I thought they already did that when they put your license plate number in the computer. Unless they're using some kind of unseen wireless scanner I've never had my passport scanned when driving back that I'm aware of, but even if they did scan it the info is already on file from when they issued it. Maybe I just don't fully understand the paranoia of crossing an international border.

Russ - 8-20-2008 at 08:03 AM

This probably won't effect me in any way either. But I thought we had some kind of right to privacy in our constitution. This article makes me believe that almost anyone could asked for and get your complete file. Seems that with all the ID theft going on and the feds record of file security it just isn't right.

LancairDriver - 8-20-2008 at 08:25 AM

Generally the population has always fallen into two camps when it comes to excessive governmental control. This has been true in the US since the 1770's war of independence. Then it was the loyalists who were comfortable with Britain's heavy hand, vs the patriots who won us our independence and freedom. I'm sure the original founders would be shocked to see where we are today. Presently it would really be a toss up to see which camp will come out on top. It looks like far to many are willing to invite the government into their lives to look around having the attitude "I'm a good guy, I have nothing to hide" the government will protect me." Thank God this attitude didn't prevail in 1776.

"Those that will sacrifice their freedom for a little security deserve neither"- Benjamin Franklin

lizard lips - 8-20-2008 at 08:30 AM

I do have my passport scanned almost every time I come back into the U.S. except when I am in the sentri lanes which I assume this information goes directly to my "file" and personally I don't care. If in any way this information may help with Homeland Security to check on a possible threat to the U.S. then go for it.

We are in a period of change in this country where we must sacrifice some of our rights such as personal information in order to secure ourselves from a threat.

I lost a few friends in the twin towers and if this was in place then and would have helped with diverting this situation from happening their lives would have been saved.

The record pertaining to this article does not mention that this information will become public.

CaboRon - 8-20-2008 at 08:55 AM

The new passports have a chip embeded .... which can be read automatically from the booth .... they no longer need to scan the bar code.

CaboRon

Russ - 8-20-2008 at 09:04 AM

"The notice states that the government may share border records with federal, state, local, tribal or foreign government agencies in cases where customs believes the information would assist enforcement of civil or criminal laws or regulations, or if the information is relevant to a hiring decision."

"They may be shared with a court or attorney in civil litigation, which could include divorce cases; with federal contractors or consultants "to accomplish an agency function related to this system of records"; with federal and foreign intelligence or counterterrorism agencies if there is a threat to national or international security or to assist in anti-terrorism efforts; or with the news media and the public "when there exists a legitimate public interest in the disclosure of the information."
lizard lips and others: Please believe me. I share your concerns about our security and lament the loss of loved ones and friends of 9/11. I just have a problem with sharing info with the world. Once a file starts on you and is shared it grows until you whole life maybe visible by a google search. I know I sound like an alarmist and I could care less about myself. It's just that chipping away at the Constitution pi$$es me off!

Von - 8-20-2008 at 09:14 AM

So funny our goverment acts sometimes ha? I hope they keep up the

the good work there doing........

lizard lips - 8-20-2008 at 10:02 AM

I'm with ya Russ and don't want anyone to have access to my personal info. as well. Being an investigator all my life and having to check on information regarding people you would not believe what kinds of info. you can find out there and what I am referring to is public. And it is growing every day.

rpleger - 8-20-2008 at 10:59 AM

Welcome to the FREE WORLD...

k-rico - 8-20-2008 at 11:06 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Russ
This probably won't effect me in any way either. But I thought we had some kind of right to privacy in our constitution. This article makes me believe that almost anyone could asked for and get your complete file. Seems that with all the ID theft going on and the feds record of file security it just isn't right.


The word "privacy" is not in the Constitution. A right to privacy has been determined by the Supreme Court to be inherent in several amendments, but it's not specifically stated.

The U.S. Government has been illegally spying on citizens for quite some time, even before the Patriot Act. J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI are notorious for doing so. There's no reason to believe that it is not even more widespread now, especially considering the consolidation of databases and the NSA's capability to monitor all electronic communications.

Always question authority.

[Edited on 8-20-2008 by k-rico]

Russ - 8-20-2008 at 12:04 PM

k-rico OK,implied several places in the Constitution. Thanks!

semantics |səˈmantiks|
plural noun [usu. treated as sing. ]
the branch of linguistics and logic concerned with meaning. There are a number of branches and subbranches of semantics, including formal semantics, which studies the logical aspects of meaning, such as sense, reference, implication, and logical form, lexical semantics, which studies word meanings and word relations, and conceptual semantics, which studies the cognitive structure of meaning.
• the meaning of a word, phrase, sentence, or text : such quibbling over semantics may seem petty stuff.

Cypress - 8-20-2008 at 12:16 PM

Russ,:O You have a way with words.:tumble: Not being sarcastic or judgemental.:D Just a simple, honest statement of fact.:tumble: