The Imperfect Community

MedeaNJ · Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 1:21 pm Post subject: NSA Does Have My Phone Records!!!

It's official.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-05-10-nsa_x.htm

There is not much being said about Sprint (my original carrier), but we have Verizon now.

Screw Verizon! DH and I are checking into switching to Qwest, which apparently is the only holdout from giving phone records to NSA.

Jessica · Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 3:30 pm Post subject:

So far, and I don't know much about it, I have mixed feelings. On one hand, I don't really care because I'm not calling Al Queda and I'm quite certain the government doesn't care about people calling friends and family. I think people are gonna make so much of this, claiming they've been so wronged, yet I think they flatter themselves into believing that the FBI/CIA really give a shit about them. OTOH, I don't think the government should be snooping into my private life at all or know who I call, even though the worse thing to come out of this is fuel for the conspiracy theorists. It does seem at first blush that the Bush administration circumvented the law and if that is the case, then it's wrong and what's wrong is wrong.

Petulant Pixie · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 8:00 am Post subject:

We have Qwest, yay!

As far as conspiracy theorists go...well, I mean this shit has happened before. Clooney didn't just decide to do Good Night, and Good Luck now on a whim. People DID have private information skewed and used against them. It's just another violation of our rights.

Scout · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 8:25 am Post subject:

To me, it's the principal of the thing. It doesn't matter what I'm talking about to my friends and family and that it's all harmless. I have a right to privacy. And I agree, it seems like W. is looking for some McCarthy era action.

Anthromomma · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 8:53 am Post subject:

MedeaNJ · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 12:16 pm Post subject:

Agree with Scout, it is the basic principle of my privacy being violated.

My Da said it was all a lie (FOX news fan), I had to explain that the NSA is not neccessarily tapping our phones, but they do have our phone records in which they are looking for a pattern of suspicion.

Then of course they could go forward with the wire-tapping w/o FISA approval, even thought getting a warrant is still required by LAW!

Now I have a closing mantra whenever I make a personal phone call...

"Screw the NSA." ::click::

Scout · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 12:37 pm Post subject:

Doh, I used the wrong form of Principle. Lol, I just taught that too.

You know what really bothers me about companies being allowed to sell your info? During this pg I've had to change OB practices twice and sign the privacy info, and it's a standard form apparently. Both times, one of the "reasons" on the list for why they might release your info to other companies, individuals, or the government is "for our own fundraising." How is that legal. They can sell your medical records to make money?

MedeaNJ · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 1:31 pm Post subject:

[quote="Scout"]You know what really bothers me about companies being allowed to sell your info? During this pg I've had to change OB practices twice and sign the privacy info, and it's a standard form apparently. Both times, one of the "reasons" on the list for why they might release your info to other companies, individuals, or the government is "for our own fundraising." How is that legal. They can sell your medical records to make money?[/quote]

Yeah, I read that shit, too. Anything I don't like, I cross out and initial. You should see the look on the office administrators' face when they see all the marks! They probably think I am a paranoid conspiracy theorist...let them think what they want. Whether or not it's legit, I have no clue. But it sure releases my frustration.

Petulant Pixie · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 3:03 pm Post subject:

In social work, if a patient (or responsible party) crosses out any part of the release contract, then it has to be honored. We had people alter the documents to be able to release all records except those which mentioned their mother and shit like that, and we had to copy the records, then white out and initial those parts, then copy again (so nobody could just peel off the white out). Really, it was serious shit.

Jessica · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 4:07 pm Post subject:

While I agree it's wrong (I've already stated that) and it is the principle of the thing, I know the government isn't listening to anyone's conversations who are on this board, unless they're calling suspected people tied to terrorists. It's absurd to think that they're listening to your conversations, they're weeding them out based on suspicious behavior, and that behavior isn't calling your kids school, cancelling a credit card etc.