Every domestic spy program has a silver lining

[Robbien]

So now the National Security Agency has taken the "pen register" to its next logical conclusion. Piggybacking on some telephone company computer systems, the NSA has analyzed numbers dialed by millions of Americans -- even Mormons and Presbyterians. This way Islamic terrorists cannot complain of profiling or discrimination.

Never mind national security, the NSA is missing the boat regarding the economic value of such voluminous data. George Bush could reduce the federal deficit and finance another war if he were to take full commercial advantage of the NSA's monstrous database of phone calls made by American citizens.

Using data mining techniques, any good marketing expert could divine how often you dial out for pizza, how quickly your order is taken -- perhaps even determine the number of toppings requested (by length of call). Those who prefer Chinese would be politically suspect.

The ruling political party could document how frequently an elected official requires escort services, and the IRS could improve its revenue collection efforts for that service industry. Illegal gambling operations could be identified around the time of major sporting events like the Super Bowl or Kentucky Derby.

. . .

Of course, if you are not a terrorist -- be it Islamic, IRA, Quebec separatist, anti-fur activist or radical vegetarian -- you have nothing to worry about.

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=484186&category=OPINION&newsdate=5/22/2006

[Ringo84]

1. Re:

"Of course, if you are not a terrorist -- be it Islamic, IRA, Quebec separatist, anti-fur activist or radical vegetarian -- you have nothing to worry about."

Oh no! Nothing but my civil rights and the Constitution, which is being abridged. I must be a moonbat.
:sarcasm:
Ringo

[librechik]

2. AHA! I was wondering why the Carlyle Group bought US Dex

I think I'm getting the picture here.