Re: Another Invasion of Privacy

[METRA1001@aol.com]

My only response to the below is, yes, yet another invasion of privacy ( I
have now officially lost count); and, yes, the only way to prevent pre-
emptive, exploitive intrusions into privacy is federal legislation. BUT, you-
know-where will freeze over before our congress passes privacy laws. States
aren't interested and claim 'lack of jurisdiction' regarding internet,
national insurance, and medical privacy; however federal congressional aides
tell me there is no way THIS congress will EVER pass privacy legislation at
the federal level. Too much money is shoveled down the congressional coffers
for this to EVER take place. One might as well expect a camel to mate with a
monkey. 

Our congress receives way, way, way more campaign contributions from multi-
billion dollar insurers, trillion dollar data infrastructure concerns, to be
troubled by trifling concerns of citizens over loss of their privacy. As the
saying goes in business, 'money walks, and BS walks'. And the big corporations
have the money, and all we 'citizens' can do is talk. Congress listens as long
as you have a few hundred grand you can give their PAC's and National
Committees.

Reality check here: This is a lost cause. You-know-where will freeze over
before the congress passes federal privacy and confidentiality laws with teeth
in our lifetimes. That is a FACT. 


In a message dated 2/7/99 10:35:24 AM EST, downeast@tir.com writes:

<< The Electronic Privacy Information Center <www.epic.org> is heading a
 boycott and will ask the Federal Trade Commission to launch a formal
 investigation for unfair trade practices.
      Mike Godwin from the Electronic Frontier Foundation says marketing
 interests are so deeply entrenched in government, its not possible to pass
 comprehensive data privacy laws in the US.
      Stanton McCandlish says that we have a constitutional amendment
 protecting free speech, but we don't have one protecting privacy.
      Barry Steinhardt, assistant director for the American Civil Liberties
 Union said, "This (chip) just points out the need for privacy laws at the
 national level."
  >>