And yeah, so the TIPS program is only going to solicit information from delivery people or whatnot. SO what, right? Why shouldn't the pizza guy call an 800# if he notices something suspicious about you, right? He is "transportation" personnel after all, and if you didn't tip for delivery, what kind of American are you? Probably a "bad" one...
I spent a couple of years in Eastern Europe after the fall of Communism and it would be difficult to describe to someone who has never lived there, just how deeply the "informant" mindset had penetrated those countries' cultures, the extent to which the seeds of mistrust were sown throughout all levels of almost every profession. I'll tell you the truth - I didn't get the impression that it was something that most people liked, knowing that a co-worker or neighbor had been spying on them for the govt.
But, there is probably some truth to what you and Shermy are implying here - if you don't have anything to hide, then why shouldn't the govt. know everything about you, right? I have nothing to hide... I have never had an affair, or jockeyed for a promotion by takling credit for my colleagues ideas, or expressed fringe political positions, or donated money to unpopular causes...
Now, if the govt. ever decides to start paying informants, then we will really have to worry - of course, by then, the buraeucracy and infrastructure will already be in place, so there won't be much we can do about it then but gripe and keep our opinions to ourselves.
And no, Hilary in 2004 would never abuse such a system....