White House Seeks to Expand DNA DATABASE...

USA Today ^ | 4/15/2003 | Richard Willing

[michaelje]

WASHINGTON

[michaelje]

I checked but didn't see this posted. I was very surprised....

[inquest]

It absolutely boggles my mind where they get the idea that somebody who's been arrested - and not convicted - has less claim to privacy rights than anyone else. Why don't they just say they'll be collecting DNA from one out of every 10 people chosen at random. It would be every bit as constitutional.

Can anyone seriously doubt where they're heading with this? How blind can people possibly be?

[mrsmith]

I think that Virginia purges DNA evidence if the arrestee is not convicted.

[stuartcr]

When that database gets hacked...look out!

[michaelje]

There's a number of blind people on this forum. Either that or they choose to look the other way...

This is awful.

[inquest]

My, that makes me so much more comfortable. Why don't they just refrain from taking the DNA until he's been convicted? It's not like they wouldn't know where to find him.

[Mark Felton]

This is another outrageous assualt on American liberty by the Republicans and Democrats.

[inquest]

OK, stupid question. Sorry, strike that from the record.

[kesg]

"DNA is to the 21st century what fingerprinting was to the 20th," says Deborah Daniels, assistant U.S. attorney general for justice programs. "The widespread use of DNA evidence is the future of law enforcement in this country."

Exactly. The only "privacy" being protected here is the "privacy" to commit a crime without being caught using DNA evidence -- not the kind of "privacy" that the Constitution protects or our laws should protect.

[michaelje]

What's American liberty?

[mtbopfuyn]

It would be no big surprise to find they are already doing "testing" on DNA from convicted criminals. The idea they can take DNA from any one of us they decide to arrest for a broken tail light is going too far. This is scary, very scary.

[michaelje]

No, not exactly. Fingerprints dont provide you with an individuals genetic make up.

You have a tremendous amount of faith in the government.

[mrsmith]

Well, there is a significant difference between using the DNA samples to build a database, and comparing it to DNA evidence on file from crimes and then disposing of it.

It's pushy enough of them to keep fingerprints from arrestees.

[stuartcr]

With your DNA, the govt could clone you and commit crimes with your clone, or use your clone as a political assassin. After that, they get rid of your clone, and you are guilty, or, at the least, easily blackmailed into even more criminal acts.

[mrsmith]

OK.

I wish the article said plainly whether they're proposing to keep the DNA from those who aren't convicted.

[Mark Felton]

What's American liberty?

You can do what you want as long as you follow regulations; pay 45% of your income in taxes; and let the government track your activity.

You can also elect any politician that the Republicans and Democrats put up for office.

[Puddleglum]

No, not exactly. Fingerprints dont provide you with an individuals genetic make up.

This is very frightening. Big gov needn't have absolute knowledge because it is too prone to abuse and misuse. In a government where some are already more equal than others, we don't need to give them more quasi-scientific differentiators to label us with or manipulate us by.

[AAABEST]

What's American liberty?

You can do what you want as long as you follow regulations; pay 45% of your income in taxes; and let the government track your activity. You can also elect any politician that the Republicans and Democrats put up for office.

You get my "Best Answer of the Day" Award. It's early yet, but I'm convinced you'll win hands down regardless.

[APBaer]

"This is awful."

Exactly.
It's about more power for the government, and more ability to abuse that power.

Think about it.
Saddam might be the vilest person on earth, but
go into your room, pull down the shades, take out a pad.

Make two columns.
In one column list everything that Saddam did to *you*,
add everything the nutty Talebin did to *you*,
add in everything that the fruitcake Kim Il did to *You*
Then sum up that column.

Go to the other column.
List there every way that some other government has screwed you around.
It might take you some time, hopefully you'll finish by April 15th.
Then sum up that column.

Which column is bigger?
Sssh. Don't tell me, don't even say it out loud.
Just tell these "Conservative" Republicans "Please, sir, can I have some more"?

[AAABEST]

So far this Administration and it's Justice Dept. hasn't found a freedom or privacy it wouldn't violate.

Meanwhile every other word out of their Orwellian mouths is "Freedom". Talk about freedom while trampling on it, name the most un-patriotic, anti-American bill ever conceived the "Patriot Act".

Un effen believable. I'm waiting for the "if you aren't doing anything 'wrong' you have nothing to worry about" blockheads.