When the government intrudes into our personal lives, records exist, laws are followed or not, but in each case, we have recourse. I admit, some people in this country believe the government is a monolithic violator of everything good and progressive. The fallacies with this position are so numerous it would take a book the size of the Oxford Dictionary to unfold all the conditions.
What does not have the same oversight is private enterprise. I am not suggesting I want government to regulate, for that puts us in an awkward position of a government larger than every business in America monitoring every business and every citizen to ensure we are all doing well and helping each other (kumbaya). That is wholly unacceptable in this life and every other life.
However, the issue was private enterprise unregulated. Now, I can always go to another business that does not intrude so extensively. That is true and I understand the motivations without question. I do not appreciate the intrusiveness that comes with the need of private enterprise to ensure profit or truth-telling.
Life Insurance
"X Life Insurance Company, in connection with the underwriting of this insurance contract, may request an investigative consumer report. The report may inquire about your character, general reputation, personal characteristics, and mode of living obtained through personal interviews with the person’s neighbors, friends, associates, acquaintances, or others who may have knowledge concerning those items of information."
An actual statement from a company I use.
The government is restricted in doing investigations and if denied for the job, the files are, by law, destroyed. What do we know for sure about private companies and their records! Do they, must they, could they. Asking my neighbors? What if I am in legal disputes with each of my neighbors and it is because each of them has violated or caused to be violated some enjoyment on my part of my property. What might their comments be, to the investigator? What if I do not speak to nor acknowledge my neighbors and maybe they suspect I am al qaida because of my tendency toward seclusion and privacy. This issue cannot happen with the government (highly unlikely).
If you apply for an FBI job, they do more than send out a questionnaire. They will send 1-2 individuals, usually newbies, to speak to neighbors. In the questions and answers that follow, the agents will determine based on their training, whether or not it is an issue and it would, if deemed to be an issue, be brought up with you, the potential employee. Not so with the life insurance. You would be denied and the records made available as to why you were denied - AFTER the denial. You would not receive the benefit of the doubt and be allowed to explain BEFORE the denial.
Intrusion by choice is still intrusion and whether or not someone says to go elsewhere ... it is increasingly unlikley businesses are not equally as intrusive. The unfortunate part - they will increasingly be more intrusive and we will allow them, all the while we will be vigilant in not allowing the government to listen to suspected al qaida phone calls.
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