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Editorial -- 12/13/98

Please see update.

Maybe Orwell was just a little off in his timing

George Orwell's forboding prophecy of a future world in which a government, euphemistically referred to as "Big Brother," intruded upon and controlled every aspects of a citizen's life was titled 1984. Perhaps he was just a few years off.

Others have documented the erosion of our constitutional rights and especially our right to privacy the last few years. Both print and broadcast journalists have raised red flags.

One of the biggest problem's with our government today is the uncaring bureaucracy concerned only with extending its own influence and not at all with serving the people. This faceless monolith seems to have more power than the people we actually elect. A new proposal from the Department of the Treasury is a shining example of this.

In an effort to better fight the "Drug War," the DoT wants to require all Federal Banks to implement a "Getting to Know Your Customers" program. (If your bank is FDIC issured, they will be subject to this regulation.) Bottom line, banks are expected to know where your deposits come from and to determine your usual spending habits. Banks will be required to notify the Feds if an "unusual" deposit or withdrawal is made. There is a similar requirement already in place but this program will go far beyond current regulations as an intrusion into the life of ordinary Americans.

Blackstone wrote, "It is far better that 100 guilty go free than for one innocent man to be convicted of a crime he did not commit." I believe this, and I hope that most Americans believe it although sometimes I am not sure they do today. This proposed regulation is supposed to be another weapon in the "Drug War." Can this supposed benefit outweigh the negatives of even more government invasion into our lives? I still remember the abuses of the Nixon administration well. Can the American people be convinced that this information will not be used by other agencies (especially the IRS)? Can we be convinced that a government that had problems protecting its secrets during the Cold War protect our most private information in this age of hackers and identity theft?

If someone sells their Mickey Mantle rookie card, are they going to get a call from the FBI asking why they made such a large deposit? If someone goes on an antiques buying trip, are they going to get a call asking why they have withdrawn so much cash lately? I don't think these examples are farfetched. And I don't think any of us would welcome a call from a law enforcement agency if either situation applied to us.

Please follow the link below to the full text of the proposal and make up your own mind. If you feel as I do, please contact your reprentatives and express your concerns.

Click here for full text of proposal

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