The Herald Sun reports:
The Agriculture Department said Wednesday it had accidentally released the Social Security and tax identification numbers of 350,000 tobacco farmers.
The agency said it inadvertently released the data in response to Freedom of Information Act requests about the tobacco buyout program. The information went to eight different people or groups.
And now under NAIS (National Animal Identification System) the USDA (a.k.a., the United States Department of Agriculture) wants us to provide them not only with our social security numbers but also the GPS coordinates of our homes, our livestock and a complete list of all of our animals so they can reveal our information to domestic terrorist groups like PETA and ELF under the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act). If they can’t keep the existing data they have secure then all bets are off when they have more data streaming in and out of their databases for every single animal on every single factory farm, small family farm, pet horse and homestead in the USA.
People can find out how to request free copies of their credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com or through the Federal Trade Commission’s Web site.
Realize that if a private company had made this little goof they would be faced with world class fines. When the Govi-Corp “accidentally” releases farmer’s data it is a ho-hum event and they face no punishments, no make good, nada.
NAIS is a bad idea. Making NAIS mandatory and forcing everyone to reveal their information so that it can be not just hacked but ‘accidentally’ released is insane. What has happened to our privacy?
The information required in Washington State and probably elsewhere is more comprehensive than you listed. Imagine turning all the following personal over over to the government just to receive the “privledge” of a getting a Premise ID number. It includes, your home phone, cell phone, fax number, business and home addresses (if different), e-mail address, user names, passwords, contact name for your farm and alternate persons information, township, range, section, type of operation, species at premise,type of business.
All this is in addition to then electronically identifying your animals and having an alternate form of identification such as DNA, biometrics, iris scan, nose prints, facial recognition, etc…so they each animal can get tracked at every move.
The goal of the powers that be is to watch you and your animals your every move, building a profile on YOU.
Celeste
Comment Celeste — February 16, 2006 @ 8:53 am
Whoa, there–PETA is not a terrorist group. That kind of ridiculous nonsense is what damages this website’s credibility. Stop parroting the Homeland Security’s propaganda–it’ll work against you.
If you want to create a groundswell of opposition to NAIS, you’d be advised to work *with* a group like PETA, who could probably go a long way to promote this issue. I’d bet even the ELF people would be on the same side.
Although I’m not a member, I identify with PETA *and* I have chickens and think this NAIS program is reprehensible, so if I were you I’d be careful not to make enemies out of allies.
Comment twistyG — February 16, 2006 @ 10:17 am
TwistyG, There might be some good people who are members of PETA however everything I’ve ever read about PETA suggests that they are pro-NAIS and pro-PAWS legislation. I have repeatedly read and heard PETA people justify the release of thousands of animals from farms, animals that then simply die on the road and in the wild. If PETA is an allie then I would like to see them actively take a stand to protect our traditional rights to farm, come out strongly against NAIS and also against PAWS and similar legislation.
Comment walterj — February 16, 2006 @ 2:07 pm
Bullshit!!!! PETA is a terrorist organization that has gotten nonprofit status and support from our government. It is rediculous! Because they have tax excemept status that means effectively our tax dollars go to support their terrorist activities since they don’t pay taxes that they should be paying. PETA should not be clasified as a nonprofit organization. PETA should be shut down for their support of terrorist activities.
As to farming and pets youre very misguided or deliberately lying. PETA advocates spaying all dogs and cats. Peta advocates America being a “No Birth Nation”. PETA is behind the PAWS legislations andother legislation around the nation to remove pets from people’s lives. PETA advocates vegetarianism and is against livestock because they don’t want any animals to be eaten. PETA tells people to take the law into their own hands - vigilantism. PETA actively justifies the terrorist activities of the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and probably ELF as well. PETA is for N.A.I.S.. Peta wants to take away your animals. How do I know all this stuff for sure?????? Because I just went to their web site and read it all there in black and white. THey admit it all right on their numerous interconnected web pages.. PETA is a front for terrorist activities carried out by other people under their name. PETA is no friend of the farmer or pet owners.
Comment Shannon Hill — February 16, 2006 @ 2:32 pm
It took me a minute, but I got the bumper sticker link on my site. Hope it sends you some traffic.
Comment Marianne — February 16, 2006 @ 3:16 pm
Sorry, but any organization that has a 2 million children a year scare campaign, and kills thousands of adoptable animals a year at just one of their facilities, and whose members are arrested for over 50 counts of animal cruelty isn’t my idea of an ethical animal rights organization.
You can find more at:
http://www.petakillsanimals.com/
Have to agree with the anti-PETA crowd…they’re terrorists, and they give money to other terrorists (ELF).
Comment b_heart — February 16, 2006 @ 3:16 pm
PETA is definately not a friend of farmers. PETA is against people having animals. PETA wants to nuter all cats and dogs. Then there would be non at all. PETA would make species go extinict. PETA are hypocryts wearing leather, eating fruit and veggies grown with manures frm cows and then denouncing farmers. PETA is evil.
Comment Emily S. — March 5, 2006 @ 4:29 pm
We are headed for a totalitarian dictatorship in this country.
Comment Mark — March 10, 2006 @ 4:23 am