[Don Galt]

You don't need to keep your financial affairs private. Apparently they already had the power to do this with banks, but if this passes they can get records from anybody who does financial transactions that are "useful".

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/12/politics/12RECO.html?ex=1069304400&en=fda0e6821bc249f2&ei=5038&partner=ASAHI

Apparently haivng to have a reason was too much of a burden, so the FBI will be able to essentially issue itself its own warrents, without a judge being involved.

For all you who are going to say "but its for the terrrorists! Won't anybody think about the terrorrists???" -- if it really were for going after terrrorists, do you think Judges approval would be a problem? Hell, judges regularly sign blank warrents these days... they aren't exatly bastions of the constitution.

No, this is a change specifically for going after people who are NOT terrorists.

But why should I care, I'm innocent right? I've got nothing to hide. :scrutiny:

I used to think posession of a gun would be come probable cause of criminal activity, but it seems they want to just get rid of the need to show any kind of cause.

Don

[Chris Rhines]

The fact that the feds can conduct warrantless searches of your banking records is bad enough. Expanding this travesty to include non-bank institutions is far, far worse. There is no possible justification for this.

Offshore banking is looking better and better.

- Chris

[Don Galt]

The problem with offshore banking is you're not offshore, so transactions with that bank are monitored.

Just plain Offshore is looking better and better. But every country has its downsides and the greatness that has come to this country because of its initial 100 years of capitalism has left it in good shape-- even with the last 70 years of socialism.

I'm debating whether its better to stay here for the civil war, or go live somewhere else in freedom. There are a few countries where you can do this, but only a few, and its hard to get in there.

[Chris Rhines]

The problem with offshore banking is you're not offshore, so transactions with that bank are monitored. True enough. Offshore banking is not a pancea, although using alias ID and strong encryption can apparently minimize your exposure. It's worth looking into.

I'm debating whether its better to stay here for the civil war, or go live somewhere else in freedom. There are a few countries where you can do this, but only a few, and its hard to get in there. I actually went through that process about a year-and-a-half ago. The conclusion I came to was 'too much trouble, too little reward.' As much as I'd like to find a Galt's Gulch to retire to while the rest of the world self-destructs, there's just not anyplace out there that fits the bill. Not any better than a piece of rural Montana, anyhow...

- Chris

[Don Galt]

I've found places that fit the bill. In fact, 1,000 hectacres in an anarcho-capitalist country. But there are problems, and finding enough of the right people to do it is difficult. I know there are enough people out there, they just mostly seem to be poor, or not have the pioneer spirit.