Data mining a dangerous practice

“So what?” you say. “I don’t care if the government is gathering data on me. I have nothing to hide.”

If the world were perfect, I might agree. Unfortunately, information gathered can be misused for someone else’s benefit. Information was gathered through the IRS and then used against the Tea Party and Republican donors. Farmers’ names were given to environmentalists without consent. I live in Illinois where Democrats dug up dirt on Ryan and, lo and behold, Barack Obama became a senator.

Information misused becomes blackmail. Once a congressman, senator, Supreme Court justice or president can be blackmailed, deals can be made that hurt our country. If someone is toying with the idea of becoming a politician, if enough information has been gathered and “tweaked” by the opposition, then a good person might never get an opportunity to serve. Politics is a ruthless business. I really find the whole idea of data mining distasteful, unconstitutional and dangerous.

I do want our government to thwart evildoers. I do not think that gathering information on Aunt Sally will help stop terrorists from attacking us.

Most constitutionalists argued that the government taking over our health care was unconstitutional. Most were positive that once it reached the Supreme Court, the whole notion of government running health care would be struck down. Justice Roberts slapped us all down with his decision and stunned at least half the nation. What if someone from the government was data mining and forced Justice Roberts to change his opinion?

Data gathering should be narrow in scope. Identify foreigners entering our country. Dare I say it? Profile. I know this is a horrible word to use. The politically correct police will probably have me arrested.

Do I trust the government? Absolutely not! Neither should you.

Dana Lynne Mueller

Hoffman Estates