To me, the very idea of being able to track someone by their purchases, is simply un-American, it’s a matter of freedom.
Hah...
The advent of technology that created computers and databases opened Pandora’s box with respect to privacy and information. When you purchase something it gets recorded, request information and it is recorded, sign up and it is recorded. Live somewhere and that information is recorded. That information is stored and used to market and sell stuff directly or indirectly.