Regarding the 26.5 million veterans who had their info stolen

[maxrandb]

What the hell do they have to hide? I'm surprised about the outrage. Or as a famous Republican House member said; "I'm outraged by the outrage".

The NSA, FBI and CIA spying on Americans and collecting our data is supposed to be "no big deal". At least that's what the MSM tells me.

Rush just said the other day that "we have no right to expect privacy". Using that logic, we can conclude that when the veterans gave up their names, addresses, and SSN's to the government, they had no expectation of privacy.

Hey, if you've got nothing to hide...

:sarcasm:

Welcome to our Brave New World

[NJ_Lib]

1. Yah, who was it that said last week that you only...

... have rights if you are a vet...! I want his comment now, please...

[SoFlaJet]

2. Wait a minute

you mean the same Rush as the one here in my county who decried the invasion of HIS doctors records?

[Jeffersons Ghost]

3. we just hate our info being sold to big corps who want to contact us

it's a ruse... the damn NSA probably gave our names to telemarketers who will rise like a phoenix from the bush flames to plague us.

[Stinky The Clown]

4. Would that it were so benign

[LaurenG]

5. The whole story would be a lot different if

a story broke saying the FBI/CIA/NSA was/were tapping congressional phone lines and oh yeah btw all congressional members had their personal information stolen, but ONLY their ss# DOB's and names!

Honestly I think we'd see all hell break loose.

[speedoo]

6. I'm one of them.

Since I learned of this fiasco, I have been thinking that this is just another reason we have to end the reign of these maniacs. To know that some klutz who works in the Bushco misadministration caused my name and SSN#, plus who knows what other personal information, to fall into unknown hands infuriates me.

Randi asked a very good question: why the hell does the VA need my SSN anyway? They have a unique 6 digit number that belongs to me and only me, so the SSN would appear to be totally unnecessry for their purposes.

[caligirl]

7. Us too, and its the 2nd time this year for us, Hewlett Packard

had a similar thing happen this year. Its not like we can keep our names off the computer files anymore but I'd like to. Did put a credit alert on our files after this one. And canceled all but our cell phone service with AT&T and sent a scathing letter to their corporate offices, followed up with a call to read it to them.

[oneighty]

9. My SSN does not

appear on my DD214s. When I joined up in 51 we were issued 'service numbers' My service number is seven digits.

On the DD214 there is an empty space for my SSN. I do not know why that was as I did have a SSN/ card at the time.

180

[maxrandb]

23. That changed many years ago

when the DOD went away from Service Numbers and started using SSN's.

What do you need to commit fraud? I'd say Name, Date of Birth, SSN, and Address is probably a pretty good start.

Heads need to roll, and since Chimpy like to declare himself "Commander in Chief" at every opportunity, he needs to take responsibility for this. What are the chances of that happening?

"I don't want a military that the government can be proud of...I want a government that the military can be proud of"

[oneighty]

25. True

At the time of the change to SSN being used as one's military service number I thought it to be a mistake.

There has been a movement since then to have 'One number to rule them all' but do not worry your ID number will not be shared. Sarcasm

180

[Toots]

27. Mine has both

I happened to be in the Army when the change took place. My service number began with US and I still have a pair of boots from my initial boot camp issue that has name and serial number sewed into the leather.

[acmejack]

10. The Va uses your SSN for everything

I mean everything. If you go there every single person you talk to will ask for "The last four of your social". For something which isn't supposed to be used for identification purposes, it they rely on it quite a lot.

[gizmo1979]

8. Hey I'm a VET and

I never volunteered to have my info given away.Not all vets are Repukes,just so you know.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

11. what, you mean your recruiter didn't tell you about that either?

There were higher intelligence requirements for Navy and Air Force inductees so many of us turned out to be Democrats. I err, can't speak for Marines... hehehe

[maxrandb]

12. Roger that Shipmate

I'm active duty Navy, and since I've gotten a couple of DD214's in my 22 years, I guess I'm a Vet too.

Did not imply that all Vets are Repukes. In fact, I think it's more likely that those serving come from all types of backgrounds and political philosophies. Probably most of them Dems.

My post was an attempt to illustrate that the Vets having their personal data stolen, is about the same as anyone having their personal data mis-used.

Look at how the MSM is treating this.

- Vets have their personal info stolen....OUTRAGE!
- Everyday American's have their personal info collected by the NSA...CRICKETS!

"It's Patriotic to distrust your government"

[Jeffersons Ghost]

13. as Thomas Jefferson's Ghost, I agree and so would that historic patriot

I have an interesting question for you mate; Which was more patriotic: Kerry risking his life in a war he felt was wrong, or after decorated service, when he protested against the occupation of Vietnam?

[maxrandb]

14. I'd have to say protesting

It would have been very easy to come home, pin your medals on your chest, sip a beer and try to get on with a normal life. That would have been the easy, painless, non-confrontational thing to do.

If he hadn't protested the war, he'd probably be President right now. Combat has got to be hell, but you're doing what you've been trained to do, and what you're expected to do. Going against the grain has to be a lot harder.

Like I've always told my folks in the Navy; "there's a correct way to do things, and a right way to do things...and they're not always the same".

[Jeffersons Ghost]

15. compaired to you my service is limited, I was out by 76 but i still recall

"there's a right way, a wrong way and the NAVY way to do things: we'll do things the Navy way from here on out," said the Chief at boot-camp.

[gizmo1979]

17. I see now.

yes I see the hyperbole now.I was too busy worrying how much I was going to get taken for.

[peacetalksforall]

16. They need a law to cover this that will provide extra protection against

being turned down for anything that results in their not getting every benefit they deserve and not being turned down for jobs or mortgages based on health or personal information in the data. I particularly grieve for widows/survivors who could be particularly vulnerable to fraud and hardship in the future.

[speedoo]

18. Great point. Can I suggest you contact Kerry's office?

He has just introduced a bill that provides for free credit reporting for affected veterans. Your idea is a great addition.

[alfredo]

19. How do you freeze your credit report?

[sweetheart]

20. if it was really found

Imagine, you are a poor sod thief who ripps off somebody's laptop and
you're looking to sell it for some drugs... Do you even boot the thing?

There is a legitimate question as to whether the data is in any hands at all,
methinks frankly not.

Is there any proof that the data is actually "found" and not just "lost".

[maxrandb]

22. I wouldn't be surprised

if we later find out that the guy who brought this info "accidentally" home knew what he had, and may have sold it.

How much do you think someone would pay for that info? Things that make you go...Hmmmm.

There needs to be some serious questions asked.

- Why was this info even stored on Vets?
- Why wasn't this info encrypted, or protected?
- Why did the VA wait 19 days to inform folks about this?
- Why do we allow this incompetent bastard to continue to be pretzledent?
- Is there anything these "blankers" are in charge of that is not as "effed-up" as a soup sandwich?
- Who pays to get these veterans fraud protection?
- What other info that the government has on American citizens has disappeared?
- Could this info be used by terrorist?
- Could this info be used for nefarious political reasons?
- Do these 26.5 million vets begin to receive direct mail from the RNC?

This stinks to high heaven. I understand that people make mistakes, but Jim Nicholson, and whoever else is involved in this "derilection of duty" should go to jail.

When do we start to hold our government accountable????

[HeeBGBz]

21. I'm a vet with sucky credit

I can't imagine anyone wanting mine for anything, but...

I wonder if it was stolen for other reasons? I wonder if the dipshit that brought the computer home is as clueless as he/she pretends to be? Something smells about this.

[entanglement]

24. Was the data encrypted, at least?

Or was it just plain text to make it easy to steal?

[sendero]

26. One thing I've always suspected..

... and now firmly believe.

Data such as this is a commodity product worth a lot of money. I'd bet just about anything that less than 10% of companies/organizations/government agencies protect this data as they would something tangibly valuable.

What I'm saying is, this data is being stolen, bought and sold on a regular basis and the vast majority of the time nobody even knows it.