How much privacy are YOU willing to give up?

First off, who's "Asama?" Lucky the government hasn't started recording how often Americans make spelling errors... the terrorists might find out how illiterate the average American is :-p

Also, there's a big difference between voluntarily applying for credit cards and grocery store cards (and those companies using that information for marketing purposes) and the government secretly keeping track of who you call. It's not just a matter of "Don't call any terrorists and you'll be fine..." It's a matter of being able to control your personal information. When you apply for a credit card, you are willingly giving up personal information... and those companies have certain rules about HOW they can use that information, that they are required and willingly let you know about (and if you bother to read the terms of service they give you, you know what those rules are). But, no one who made a phone call between September 11th and now had any idea that the government was keeping track of who they called and how often... and they certainly didn't consent to it. I'm not worried about the government breaking down my door because I know I haven't done anything wrong. But, it's a matter of the government crossing a line they had no right to cross. A peeping tom or even just a nosy neighbor looking in your window may not be hurting you in any way that can be measured, but wouldn't you feel violated just by the thought that they were watching you without your knowing, without your consent? Americans are hurt and angry about this because they feel violated and wonder, what's next?

Y'know Dave, I really don't care. I don't do anything illegal, or even that socially deviant (Asian porn is still legal right?). So how does it hurt me if they can listen to my retarded conversations, or read my rambling emails? Besides what everybody is forgetting, this has been an issue for like the past 4 presidents! This is not a new issue, GWB did not invent phone tapping. Gosh people... he's not THAT bad! I mean he can't talk very well, and tends to make brain dead decicisons and then stupidly stand by them (gotta respect a man who stands on his word though). But have people forgotten about Pres. Clinton's "Operation: Espionage"? Where he authorized the RANDOM tapping of US citizens? At least the spin we got from the Bush camp is that the tapping they were doing was focused on alleged terrorists and their supporters. I'm willing to give up some privacy if that operation is making a difference. Now i'm just waiting for them to tap the phones in Mexico to see who's coming over... so they can have a house prepared, fully furnished and a mound of Gov't money waiting for them... I hate this country now. Boooo....

Well, I am a bit touchy about them even tracking my movements on the Internet. I think that if we go too much farther in the name of "security" we will be living in the days of "Big Brother". Many Empires were ushered in with applause because they promised security.

As to cameras in the subway and on the street, I see nothing wrong with that. I would welcome more of it, because I am not doing anything wrong - unless driving, then I do speed a little - so go for it. In my home? No.

Satellite video? Just don't look up and you are okay.

As to phone conversations, do you believe that you have privacy when you use a cordless or cell phone now? I have a neighbor that likes to listen in on others phone conversations with his little device that he has.

E-mail? That one is kinda like reading my postage mail. I am not to up on that one. In fact I think it is wrong.

I just sit back and watch Americans allow more and more freedoms stripped away with their applause and wonder what we will be in another 50 years.

I think we would all be genuinely appalled at what is being done already now.

Anything regarding my privacy and my life should be off limits as far as I am concerned.

Every time I purchase something now, they ask for my phone no. We are on every bloody computer in this country. The government pretends to protect our privacy but they are the worst offender. None of this should be allowed. Period.

If I have committed a criminal act, then by all means, be my guest. Otherwise, stay the hell away from me.

Enough is enough . . . and now is the time to put a halt to all of this nonsense. Actually, I am not willing to give up anything more . . . and want some of my privacy back! I think that the straw that would break the camel's back would be if it were mandatory to have cameras in every house in every home. I don't think I could tolerate that and probably would retaliate by breaking every one of them and then ending up in prison were I would be watched even more closely . . . or in an institution for the criminally insane!

This government has gone so far overboard with it's intrusiveness and invasions of privacy, it's scary. Personally, I have nothing to hide - never been a member of a terrorist group, communist or anything like that. But with all the wiretapping & surveilance these days who knows how many innocent people get caught up in the web, with no recourse. It's starting to feel like the USSR or Nazi Germany around here.

Bravo, TwinMommyJen... well said!

Government crossed the line long ago when our SS number became our ID number. This is Aushwitch in the making. You know the chip in coming and then the satellite can track us all. You think the chains of slavery were binding, a joke to what's next.

People give up more of their private information voluntarily trying to open a bank account or apply for a credit card than the government collects in their effort to capture the badguys. How many of you have a grocery store loyalty card that gives you a break on your purchases? Did you know that they can track your buying habits with that bit of data and then sell it to marketing companies? Do you remember what kind of information you filled out to get that little discount card? Face it...this is a tempest in a teapot, folks. The genie has been out of this particular bottle for better than 30 years.

Do we really know what's been taken without our knowledge? Of course there is technology and programs in place that we may never know about, but as far as KNOWING my privacy is being violated is something with which I have a problem. The thing is---even though they think they do, they don't own me, and even though they think they have a right, they don't. If I'm not a threat to our country, and believe me I am not, they need to stay away. They should have it figured out who the threats are, and leave the rest of us alone.

I have nothing to hide, so it wouldn't be anything more than just an annoyance for me. However, I have absolutely no problem with the government using such techniques to combat terrorism. The legal procedures to do such should be followed of course, and obviously there is room for misuse. As technology continues to advance, there are obviously going to be new ways to collect intelligence. I don't think anyone is doing anything worse than things that have been done in the past...we just have more technology and reasons to use it.