Our View

Corsair Staff

Published: January 9, 2006

Privacy is a wonderful thing.  It’s nice to know that no matter how intrusive and stressful life can be, at the end of the day you can retreat to your home and be alone, far from the watch of the maddening crowd.

Or, at least, you used to be able to.

Thanks to the likes of the National Security Agency and the Patriot Acts (I and II – hey, just like the movies!), the federal government has the right to pry into the personal lives of just about anyone. Thanks to the likes of Carnivore (which the FBI can use to track every move someone makes on the Internet), and the government’s satellite tracking system (which is pretty much self-explanatory) they also have the ability.

“No,” you say, “not my life! That’s where you’re wrong. The government just goes after terrorists. I don’t stockpile firearms and I haven’t converted to Islam; they don’t watch me!”

And maybe you’re right – for now.

But the REAL ID Act finally passed in May, after years of hard work by Republicans in the House and Senate. Within a few years everyone living or working in the U.S. will need a federally approved ID card to fly on a plane, open a bank account, collect Social Security, or take advantage of any government services. In other words, the government will be able to keep track of all of your activities – legally, and entirely above board.

Privacy is a wonderful thing. Too bad it’s becoming obsolete.