Dear mother of Gawd, I am tired of arguing with rocks

[1StrongBlackMan]

157. I haven't read the many, many ...

responses to this OP, so forgive me is I'm repeating something. (I know that many, many people will disagree with the following; but I hope someone will hazard an answer, or at least, ponder the thought.)

What you have written is technically correct ... "your neighbor can't write to the phone company and ask them for all the details of your phone calls. ie, who you called, and for how long and from where. ..." However, the next part of the sentence ... "The government can't do this either without a warrant based on probable cause" ... is incorrect.

What many seem not to know (or care about) is, The government, and any private concern (including, your neighbor), can PURCHASE all of your above information. In fact, the mining of (consumer ... read: everyone's) data that everyone is so concerned with of late is/has been a multi-billion dollar industry.

But what troubles me is the only restraints on the transaction (on the private side) are: 1) whether the collector wants to sell it to the party; and, 2) whether the party on the other side of the tranaction can afford to make the purchase.

What I don't understand is: why when government gathers the information (for arguably moral purposes, e.g., to prevent violence), it is an uber-wrong; but when private industry does it ... for profit (i.e., for inherently amoral purposes), it is a matter, not worthy of discussion?

I, by far, fear/distrust the private industry that I have absolutely no control over, than the government where I, to this point, have been able to retain the illusion that through my vote, I have a measure of control.