I can't wait for national health care. The want a database that will be used to attached all data to. Party affiliation, religious affiliation, Gun Ownership, Party contributions..... watch out America... it is not about Health care!

Geek, grab a tin-foil cap quick!

Party affiliation, religious affiliation, gun ownership... on your MEDICAL RECORDS?!!

GET REAL!

If the government wanted all that information then they wouldn't need a new database. They already have the tax database, passport, social security, etc...

Let me guess, you aren't geting a H1N1 flu shot, you think Obama is not a US citizen, and you love Glen Beck?

The editorial is right, do not blame the technology.
Blame those who seek for information. After all information is power.
Anytime you add a program to your computer you risk that you are giving someone access to your computer files.
I repair laser printers for a living.
I have received a few calls in the past couple of years from a few clients complaining that there laser printer stopped printing in some formats.
I would go to the company and look at the printer and pull up the error log. Finding no error codes saying that there was a software/hardware issue of communication between printer and computer.
I would look at the latest printer software update.
I would find that during the night that a software update had come and and changed the printer settings in the computer, without the users knowledge.
If your printer is connected to a network and the network is hooked up to the internet, then the printer company can come into your computer and update the software without your knowledge.
If you complain to them, they will tell you that you agreed to this system when you installed the printer software. continued

In the user agreement that you agreed to when you install the software there will be a statement that the printer builder can access your computer online and install updates to the printer software whenever they become available.
Firewalls will not protect you from these updates. They are part of the printer programing.
Therefore the firewall does not recognize them as spam or any other type of danger to your computer.
After all you agreed to such a thing when you installed the printer.
In one case a printer manufacturer was sued by a firm that lost some data when the printer firm updated their printer during the night and it somehow fouled up the firms' computers hard drive.
In one other case a law firm that is one of my clients bought a new printer and installed it, agreed to the user agreement and started using the printer.
After a month or so the printer quit printing, so one of the law clerks called tech support, because the printer was under warranty.
After finally getting through to a tech, the tech asked for the printer serial number.
The law clerk gave the tech the printer serial number

Actually, a firewall can be configured to block an external company from accessing any device behind it. No matter what you agreed to. Whether or not it is configured that way is another issue entirely.

A firewall can be configured to block and permit exactly and only what one wishes to pass through. It is work, and can create inconveniences, but it is entirely possible.
But once you agree to do the equivalent of letting sheep in through door 5, you better make sure that you have other software in place checking out those sheep to make sure they don't have hoof and mouth disease!

Anonymous | 1:14 a.m.

I have no problem with "Geek | 12:41 a.m." considering what the worst-case-scenario could be with this legislation.

His asking questions and being a little concerned about what the political establishment plans to do with this new-found control of our information does NOT automatically make him a tin-foil hat conspiracy theorist.

I recall YOU... were concerned about THE SAME THING... when Bush proposed and passed the Patriot Act. Am I right?

So Anonymouse... is YOUR tinfoil hat on tight enough???

You can subnet your network and use static routing to make your network more secure. Then, we have inception that protects information. There are firewalls and never open any e-mail with attachments you didn't ask to receive.

Please delete your spam. Never answer spam not even to ask to be removed from the list. Never give out account numbers over the Net.

Shut down you PC when its not in use.