Americans Trust Corporations More Than Their Government

[rucky]

We give up sensitive information every day. Our credit card numbers every time we pay a bill or make a purchase. Our phone records are the property of our cellular carriers. We use our loyalty cards at the supermarket and they know all the food you buy. Even the DU admins know your real name and can find out every post you make. We willingly and thoughtlessly click the "I Agree" button and give up our privacy every day to private businesses.

We give it up to get something in return - a purchase, a convenience, or a place to post political opinions anonymously. We give it up because we trust the business to keep this information secure. They record your calls "for training purposes", they track your purchases so they can give you relevant offers, they keep your credit card on file so you can pay next time with a single click. They share and sell your information with other businesses. Read the privacy policy.

So we give up privacy for convenience, but get upset when the data we volunteered is shared with the government in exchange for a little more security. Why is this NSA exchange much different? I think it's all about trust, and it's healthy to be upset by this, but why do we put this trust in private businesses without a second thought? I'm guilty too: I have a cellular plan, pay my bills online, visit Facebook and DU.

I honestly don't have the level of fear about this NSA surveillance as many here do. It's "big data" - and if they see a pattern and take a deep dive, I have enough trust in our justice system that any action they take from this information will be within the law. I'm not sure that the type of data they're analyzing is out of bounds from the law and our Constitutional protections, since we already volunteered it.

Trust is subjective, so you may disagree, and I'm listening to all the reasons why I should be more than mildly angry and concerned. It's made me take a second look at all the information we share with businesses. If we're really really upset by this, we should take a look at government, business, and ourselves and re-check our priorities on trading privacy for convenience and for security. What is the value of each of these? What's the right balance?

[House of Roberts]

1. I trust Democratic Party members in government.

I don't trust 'government' when Corpocrats run it, or when countryless corporations try to run it. I don't keep enough in an accessible account for them to steal, and I don't have credit cards.

As far as my Kroger card, all I can tell that happens by them knowing my purchasing decisions is they aren't out of what I buy when I go to the store.

NSA data collection/mining is a factor both parties will use for whatever purposes the one in power chooses. To not use the data invites charges by the other side that the country is less safe.

I'm less worried about my call records being archived than I am my internet browsing. A far right, Fascist government could target as a threat to their power anyone who regularly visited a site such as this one.

[1-Old-Man]

2. It begs the question, how can you tell one from the other?

[RKP5637]

3. +!, n/t

[kentuck]

5. Right!

There is a difference?

[burnodo]

4. um, our credit card numbers are "given up" in order to purchase things

I agree about the grocery cards where you offer them so you can get discounts which really were inflated prices to begin with. Every time I go into the local pharmacy, they want me to sign up for their Wellness card and I keep telling them no. They say "don't you want to save money?" I say "I'd really rather you didn't track my purchases and buying habits."

[socialist_n_TN]

8. Yes, that's the way I look at it too. It's a "quid pro quo" with the items listed...

We get something back. With government surveillance, we get nothing back, but some nebulous "security" that doesn't really keep us safe and could conceivably put us in more danger from the government toadies of the capitalists.

[chervilant]

6. Bwahahahahahahahaha!!!

Trust no one, doncha know?

In my half century on this planet, I've watched and listened as our species has devolved into a barely educated, easily propagandized, fear-based, hate-mongering, derisive, divisive mass of stressed out and/or depressed individuals. Color me not surprised...

[Brickbat]

7. We share sensitive information because we know we have the law on our side if something goes wrong.

If something goes wrong with information that a corporation gives the government, how do we know?

[GeorgeGist]

9. The best that money can buy.

[Savannahmann]

10. Interesting take.

There is a difference however. You can choose to post on Facebook, or not. You can choose to use those shopping savings cards, or not. You can pay cash, or credit, or debit, as you choose. In other words, for many of your examples, you have the power to participate, or not, based entirely upon your own comfort level.

Back in the 1980's, and 1990's, when Radio Shack had to have a name to ring up a sale, even a simple one. I got in the habit of giving them a false name and address. I signed nothing, paid in cash, so I committed no crime. I figured they didn't have a right to know who I was, just that I was. To this day, I pay cash often when buying many things, admittedly not all things. In other words, I have the freedom to participate in the programs, or not depending upon my desire for individual privacy.

IF I do participate, the worst I can endure is some flyers in my mailbox, email and snail mail. Perhaps online I will endure targeted ads for websites I've visited.

On the other hand, is there any way to opt out of the Government snooping? How do I remain anonymous when they are watching everything that everyone writes, says, texts, or looks at? How do I choose not to participate? I have to have an ID with biometric information. That fake ID's still exist shows the failure of that program. If I don't have ID, I can be held by the Government until my identity is established to their satisfaction. I am prohibited from traveling by plane, bus, or train, or even by my own car without satisfactory ID. If I choose to give a false name to a police officer, or a representative of the Government, I am committing a crime that is punishable by more than a year in prison. What is the penalty for giving a false name to Radio Shack?

Corporations may be bad, and they may be intrusive. But I have the power to participate, or to avoid them for whatever reasons I like. There is no constitutional amendment that prevents Corporations from establishing such programs. But there IS a constitutional amendment prohibiting the Government from doing so. Governments punish corporations when they get too far out of line, and boycotts are always an ever-present threat to a corporation. How do I boycott the Government of the nation of my birth that is snooping? Even if I leave the nation, they will continue spying on me. In fact, they will do even more spying on me.

They aren't the same. In one, I have choices which allow me to take my money, privacy, and business elsewhere. In the other, I am a subject and should be grateful that they aren't doing more spying on me and my fellow citizens.