I'm with DRB on this. It is one thing to bewail widespread data brokering. It is another to use this as an excuse to make cheap shots at libertarians without any particular evidence.
E Sent from my iPhone > On Dec 28, 2013, at 22:03, "David R. Block" <[email protected]> wrote: > > WTF?????????????????????????????????????? > > This is insulting and incoherent. > > David > > "We are now, my friends, in a situation where the majority of Americans get > their news and information about what is going on with their government from > entities that are licensed by and subject to punishment at the hands of that > very government. Nobody can truly believe that this is what our founding > fathers had in mind."—Neal Boortz > > On 12/28/2013 4:08 PM, [email protected] wrote: >> The problem with data brokering >> >> >> I needed a few moments of relaxation and tuned in to C-Span >> just to see what was happening and maybe to listen to some >> interesting discussion. I got more than I bargained for. >> >> A woman was testifying before a Senate committee about >> what is known as "data brokering." This is a completely unregulated >> "industry" that is currently raking in billions of $$ annually. >> >> How in God's name can any libertarian -anyone at all- justify >> what is going on? As the woman said, the people in data brokering >> businesses have no morals, no conscience, no sensitivity, and no shame. >> >> Here is what is being sold for about 7.9 cents per name : >> >> Take your pick- >> >> Names and addresses of policemen in any community of your choice >> Names and addresses, sometimes phone numbers, of victims of rape >> " " " of people with various diseases or medical >> conditions >> " " " of mothers, plus numbers of children in >> families >> " " " of people with various professional or >> other interests >> >> This goes on and on approximately to infinity. >> >> Consumers have no choice as things are but either to put up with this crap >> or to opt out of the system entirely. There is no alternative, like allowing >> one's name to be posted, and maybe a phone number, but nothing else. >> It has to be all or nothing at all. >> >> Credit scores are regulated but are easy to circumvent with alternative >> metrics that provide the same kind of overall rating. >> >> While it may be true -although maybe not- that the market would correct >> for this kind of outrage sooner or later, this could well take a great deal >> of time. It has already taken more than a decade since the problem was >> first identified and there still has been no meaningful industry action. >> >> >> What about the meantime? Doesn't the meantime count? This is a >> gigantic flaw in libertarian thinking. >> >> >> What about the cop who knows that his family is in danger because >> a list is in circulation pin-pointing where he lives? >> >> What about a rape victim who now feels that she needs to relocate >> and abandon having a credit report because of harassment >> caused by her name being hawked on the internet ? >> >> What about hucksters selling inferior drugs or faulty medical products >> to seniors who don't really have full command of their wits? >> >> And on and on and on even more. >> >> >> It is completely impossible for the market to correct anything at all >> for people who are now being victimized by entirely legal data brokering. >> Even if the abuse stopped in the next 48 hours the damages have >> been done, and some damages have been severe and may even >> be life threatening into the indefinite future. >> >> Worse, the market shows no signs at all of self-regulation. >> These abuses could continue until 2020 or even longer than that. >> >> Exactly how many structural flaws there are in market functions >> I cannot say, but here is one that is so sick and sickening that you would >> think >> even die-hard libertarians would be unable to deny the obvious. >> >> Prediction: They will deny the obvious anyway. >> >> >> It seems obvious to me what that would say about libertarianism. >> >> >> Just a few observations >> >> Billy >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> -- >> Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community >> <[email protected]> >> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism >> Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org >> >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > > > > This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus > protection is active. > > > -- > -- > Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community > <[email protected]> > Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism > Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org > > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. -- -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
