An Ol’ Broad’s Ramblings
I’m Confused
Ok, so what else is new. Confusion is a natural state for me. 
But when I read this, I got even more confused.
Hidden deep in Senator Christopher Dodd’s 630-page Senate housing legislation is a sweeping provision that affects the privacy and operation of nearly all of America’s small businesses. The provision, which was added by the bill’s managers without debate this week, would require the nation’s payment systems to track, aggregate, and report information on nearly every electronic transaction to the federal government.
Now, wait a minute. I was under the impression that those on the left, also known as Democrats, didn’t like the gubmint snooping. Isn’t that why they get all bent out of shape over the Patriot Act? I mean, if listening in on conversations between bad guys in a foreign country and a bad guy in this country is a no-no, why on earth is Sen. Dodd digging for information on what I buy from Amazon.com, or any other online shopping I do?
FreedomWorks Chairman Dick Armey commented: “This is a provision with astonishing reach, and it was slipped into the bill just this week. Not only does it affect nearly every credit card transaction in America, such as Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express, but the bill specifically targets payment systems like eBay’s PayPal, Amazon, and Google Checkout that are used by many small online businesses. The privacy implications for America’s small businesses are breathtaking.”
I wonder if Sen. Dodd would be willing to explain his little bill? I’m pretty sure he’d just TRY to explain it away. “It’s not what you think. We need the information.”
“At a time when concerns about both identity theft and government spying are paramount, Congress wants to create a new honey pot of private data that includes Social Security numbers. This bill reduces privacy across America’s payment processing systems and treats every American small business or eBay power seller like a criminal on parole by requiring an unprecedented level of reporting to the federal government. This outrageous idea is another reason to delay the housing bailout legislation so that Senators and the public at large have time to examine its full implications.”
I find it a little more than disconcerting that the federal government knows anything about me at all. That there will be weasels, some third rate bureaucrat, who will know more details about me than my own husband, and could very easily take said knowledge to use against me, steal my identity, or any number of things?
Just what business is of Dodd, or anyone else in the gubmint, who I buy my mascara from, or what t-shirt I wear, and from whom I buy anything!?!
So, I really wish someone would enlighten me.
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“I was under the impression that those on the left, also known as Democrats, didn’t like the gubmint snooping. Isn’t that why they get all bent out of shape over the Patriot Act?”
they are okay with it now because they think their “candidate” errr messiah is going to win the white house. haven’t you see the ever-classic protest sign that says “no war unless a democrat is in the white house”???
@christmasghost:
Hmm…. don’t think I recall seeing that one. Although, truth be told, I’ve started kind of glazing over when I see the things.