The prevailing reason, in my opinion, is a lack of understanding of what is really going on. While you and I may see past the confusing descriptions and word play, most don't take the time to look at those confusing descriptions let alone see past the surface.
When faced with the consequences of the schemes that repeatedly show up in the news, most people ("Americans") included, tend to disagree with them. Unfortunately, clear and insightful descriptions are not common.
The US is a land of rarely asserted freedom.
While that may seem sad, and may cast Americans as a lazy, ignorant bunch, the system has evolved into one where an individual does not have the power (time, money, influence) to lobby the governing bodies to change the laws (or not change them as the case may be). Independent organizations do have that ability, and are doing so to protect the freedoms that are not easily asserted on a micro scale.
Even if the intentions of all who have access to such an extensive database are indeed pure, its very existence compromises my own personal feeling of security.
Slashdot Mirror
The prevailing reason, in my opinion, is a lack of understanding of what is really going on. While you and I may see past the confusing descriptions and word play, most don't take the time to look at those confusing descriptions let alone see past the surface.
When faced with the consequences of the schemes that repeatedly show up in the news, most people ("Americans") included, tend to disagree with them. Unfortunately, clear and insightful descriptions are not common.
The US is a land of rarely asserted freedom.
While that may seem sad, and may cast Americans as a lazy, ignorant bunch, the system has evolved into one where an individual does not have the power (time, money, influence) to lobby the governing bodies to change the laws (or not change them as the case may be). Independent organizations do have that ability, and are doing so to protect the freedoms that are not easily asserted on a micro scale.
Even if the intentions of all who have access to such an extensive database are indeed pure, its very existence compromises my own personal feeling of security.