Minnesota GOP's CD Raises Privacy Concerns

doginthewoods writes to tell us the ThinkProgress blog is reporting that the Minnesota Republican Party has been distributing a new CD about a recent proposed amendment. The CD poses questions about some of the hot-button issues like abortion, gun control, and illegal immigration. The problem with this CD, however, is that it "phones home" to the Minnesota GOP, without making it clear that your name is attached. So, if you take a look at the CD and take time to answer the questions, beware. Once you are finished they will know not only who you are, but where you stand on the issues at hand.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:Spyware?

[JourneyExpertApe]

No. Spyware, by definition is something that collects information about you and sends it without you knowing it. Filling out a form in a program that you deliberately ran and having that same program send that information somewhere is not spying. What would be the purpose of filling out such a survey (into which you entered your name), if not to be sent somewhere so you can receive political junk mail (or "analog spam", as I like to call it)?

Now, in my highschool government class (which was required for graduation), we had to take a "test" at the end that asked for our opinion on some key issues like welfare, taxes, and I forget what else. As I recall, this was to be sent elsewhere to be "evaluated". I always suspected that this information ended up on file with the state government so they could characterize everyone's political views. The difference is that the GOP software is optional.

Re:Your tax forms

[cubicledrone]

and then move to a Value Added Tax system.

poor people that it'd be good for them.

Well, let's see how good the current tax system is for poor people:

1. Rent = zero deductions
2. Savings = all interest taxed
3. Medical expenses = not deductible unless high minimum reached
4. Car repairs = not deductible
5. Wages = taxed before they are received
6. Consumer interest = not deductible, even though it is ten times higher than when it WAS deductible
7. Gas and Utilities = taxed two and three times

Basically, poor people are taxed and taxed and TAXED with the current system. Now, why would a VAT be better? One simple reason: Savings would no longer be taxed. Ever. When something isn't taxed, people use it. Why do people buy houses? To get the mortgage deduction. Why do people start IRAs? To get the deduction.

With a VAT, only money that is spent is taxed. Savings levels would skyrocket, it would put more money back into the hands of taxpayers, and that would dramatically decrease the current debt problems most people have. Anything that encourages savings is always a good thing. Always.

Re:Your tax forms

[AuMatar]

One major problem here- poor people don't make enough money to save. They're lucky to break even over the year. A VAT tax would be, at BEST, no change. In the meantime, it would lower taxes for the rich who save the vast majority of their money. This would mean it lowers taxes as a percent of income on the rich, and raises it on the poor.

Furthermore, the idea that a VAT tax would effect savings rate is ludicrous even at face value. Why is the fact that savings are taxed effect savings rate? Its taxed if its saved or spent. Even under a VAT tax, when you do eventually spend its taxed. Now or later, it doesn't make a difference.

Re:ummm...no

[jadavis]

If you're filling out your info in order to use software, you might expect it to not be sent out. That's almost like personalizing the software, and possibly registering it at the end. Notice that MS Word does not ask you any political questions, because that would have nothing to do with using the software (at least, not yet).

However, if you're just filling out a form to fill out a form, it's pretty unreasonable to expect that the information stay on your computer.

Before entering personal data anywhere you should have some kind of awareness how it will be used. Entering the data alone is a certain amount of implied consent. If the software harvests the data, even from itself, I'd see your point. But the people are actually entering their data and opinions.

Now, public on a website is a different matter. That should probably be disclosed out of ethics, but I guess if you don't ask any questions ahead of time, it could be sent to many other companies anyway.

Re:ummm...no

[greenrd]

In the UK this would be flat-out illegal, because we have sane data privacy laws. Everybody who stores data about you (except certain exempt users such as the police) are required by law to tell you what will be stored and for what purpose, and they're required to only use it for that purpose and destroy it after it's no longer needed for that purpose. Political parties are certainly not exempt from this.

Re:Let me get this straight

[Golias]

Minnesota progressives have nobody to blame but themselves.

After all, they were the ones who desperately wanted Minneapolis to be seen as a "world class city" and have pushed for theaters, museums, rail lines, sports stadiums, high-density housing, new shopping developments, a mega-mall just outside the airport, HUGE bail-outs of a major airline with a hub in the area, and anything else that would help the metro area grow, grow, grow by attracting people from other parts of the country.

Well, people came, and (surprise surprise), they don't all look, act, and think like Garrison Keillor. Some of them even dare to think Swedish-style socialism is a bad idea. Suddenly Roger Moe, who once aspired to be governor, has about as much power and influence as a typical school board member.

Proving once again that the Law of Unintended Consequences is, and always has been, utterly lost on Minnesota progressives.