Your ISP as Net watchdog

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Once again, I agree with you, but ...

... in this case only if certain assumptions we are making really ARE true. In this case, it is the assumption that we really CAN "throw the bums out."

Staying with the zoo analogy, we're making the assumption that the zoo keepers aren't stuffing the ballot boxes. You see, in addition to controlling our cages, the zoo keepers also control every aspect of what comes in AND out of those cages; we don't have an independent observer, not IN a cage, who can verify there isn't some skulduggery going on. And, I don't remember who said it, but the saying goes something like: "If you want to be sure someone is cheating on a job, just make sure nobody can see them DO the job."

I glean from your posts that you don't feel there has been some cheating going on and the whole 1984 fear is overblown. I, on the other hand, see the shenanigans in Florida in 2000, and the similar events in Ohio in 2004, and have come to the opposite conclusion.

My problem with this "private information" issue is that these mortgage companies, on-line payment facilities, etc., have all of your information in the same database: your SSN in one field in a record, along with your color preference for automobiles in another field, maybe in the same record. Having worked with some of this data in my professional life, it scares me that some car salesman out there can see if he has the right shade of Cadillac for you, AND has a new way of supplementing his income by stealing your ID. I have KNOWN this to happen, and so am not as confident as you about how slippery this slope is.

About this being MORE than merely child porn, oh yes, I agree. As I see it, the child porn angle is being used as a wedge to get them in so they can collect more information on you for their own nefarious purposes, much as the Patriot Act is being used to attack and/or circumvent the Bill of Rights.

(BTW, I am thoroughly enjoying our conversation. As you can see by my posts, I have an irreverent attitude about almost everything, even my own beliefs; sometimes I hit a nerve and the person I'm speaking with gets offended and our conversation degenerates into a slap-fest of trading insults. Glad to see I haven't done that to you yet.)

Posted by: Judas I.   Posted on: 06/17/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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