The government knows what kind of underwear you pack, what do you think of that?

Question

Unbelievable!!

Collecting of Details on Travelers Documented
U.S. Effort More Extensive Than Previously Known

By Ellen Nakashima
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, September 22, 2007; Page A01

The U.S. government is collecting electronic records on the travel habits of millions of Americans who fly, drive or take cruises abroad, retaining data on the persons with whom they travel or plan to stay, the personal items they carry during their journeys, and even the books that travelers have carried, according to documents obtained by a group of civil liberties advocates and statements by government officials.

The personal travel records are meant to be stored for as long as 15 years, as part of the Department of Homeland Security's effort to assess the security threat posed by all travelers entering the country. Officials say the records, which are analyzed by the department's Automated Targeting System, help border officials distinguish potential terrorists

from innocent people entering the country."...""The federal government is trying to build a surveillance society," said John Gilmore, a civil liberties activist in San Francisco whose records were requested by the Identity Project, an ad-hoc group of privacy advocates in California and Alaska. The government, he said, "may be doing it with the best or worst of intentions. . . . But the job of building a surveillance database and populating it with information about us is happening largely without our awareness and without our consent."

Gilmore's file, which he provided to The Washington Post, included a note from a Customs and Border Patrol officer that he carried the marijuana-related book "Drugs and Your Rights." "My first reaction was I kind of expected it," Gilmore said. "My second reaction was, that's illegal."
Daddys watching!

Answer 1

I go commando &hope they take a peek!

Answer 2

It's not the government you should be afraid of, it's marketing majors. I'm a business major and over the semester I've learned how to profile people like a secret agent spy. The profiling ninjas of the world are Marketing guys/gals. Just by taking inventory of the items on your body as you walk by I can find out what tv shows you most likely watch, your political views, and your favorite toothpaste with frightening accuracy. The more I information marketers collect the more info can go in those giant statistical computers. All the government is doing is finding ways to add more info into those giant statistical programs so that when you say you like Colgate toothpaste I can cross reference a trillion things and tell you what your favorite color is and what shoes you buy.

Basically I think it just proves that nobody is an individual and nobody is really that unique. Humans are pretty darn predictable and our thoughts and wants and actions can be put into mathematical equations. Morality is the same, we just have different ways of expressing respect and honor, and the Myers Brigs test was right...there are only 16 different personality types in the whole world.

Answer 3

Its between Dale Sr. and Jeff Gordon. Now I'm a huge Sr. fan. But you got to give credit where its due. Jeff came in and took over from Earnhardt like the way Earnhardt came in and took over for Petty. He carried the sport into the new generation. Both very talented and both great wheel men. Now Jeff maybe the second greatest driver ever, but he ain't behind Petty. He would be behind Earnhardt. But that is a little bias considering I only saw Petty mostly at the end of his career. Also you can't compare drivers from different generations. @rick- That was well said.

Answer 4

This makes me so mad. I hate how involved the government is now. I purposely pack my bag so poorly that if they open it, they'll spend an hour putting it back together, like a jack in the box. I hope they like messing around with my dirty laundry on the way home!

Answer 5

I was unaware that there was any "border" control. The only thing that the government is trying to do is "control" us. I mean really have any of you heard about NAFTA? Their superhighway plans in action, and the Amero? Come on people. It won't be too long until they have control of us. And there won't be any United States of America only "North American Union" being controlled by anyone but US citizens.

Answer 6

Them knowing about my underwear does not bother me at all except that I would prefer they get busy and look after this country rather than snooping thro my things.. but hey.. whatever floats your boat...

Answer 7

I wear Levi's boxers

Answer 8

Would not surprise me. ALL in the name of keeping us safe, when they can't even keep a poor Mexican out. (and I mean poor as in not having money)

Answer 9

Not me! i like to go "commando" all the time!
not confining,chafing,rubbing, etc... very liberating!

Answer 10

I don't wear any so I guess I showed them