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A Hallmark moment
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Location: Blogs Broken News |
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| Posted by: Bill Thompson |
12/10/2007 4:23 PM |
My birthday was last month, and among the well wishers was a surprising name, state Sen. Evelyn Lynn. I received a birthday card from the senator, as did my wife about two weeks earlier on her birthday.
Normally, my Big Brother intruder radar goes off like an air raid horn in such instances, but thanks to President Bush, the Patriot Act and the CIA snoops (the ones who don't do the waterboarding) I've grown dangerously complacent about such activities. Quite frankly, it didn't faze my because I've met Sen. Lynn and she's quite pleasant.
But now, thanks to an interesting exchange between Ocala resident Steve Ellis and state Sen. Charlie Dean, I understand why I got the card.
After Steve recent had such a Hallmark moment, he fired off the following letter to Sen. Dean on Nov. 29:
"Yesterday I received a birthday card from you Senator. In small print there was also note of your "ElectCharlieDean.com" web address.
Senator, you are not a close friend or family relative...So how did you get my birthday?
I believe you have used your elected political office to gain access to my private personal information, for your own additional political gain. What other personal information do you also hold? This is an abuse of your authority and an example of our loss of confidentiality. Many of us have long been concerned about governmental "Big Brother" expansion, and your actions reinforce that concern.
I am also sending this to the Brad Rogers at the Ocala Star Banner as an Opinion submission."
In response, Sen. Dean wrote,
"Good morning Mr. Ellis, I am deeply saddened that this birthday card has offended you. Please know that this was an attempt in good faith by me to let the people of District 3 know that I am working for them and am available to assist them for whatever it is they need regarding state government.
When you registered to vote, you gave your birth date to the Supervisor of Elections. I was able to obtain that information via Chapter 119 F.S. or what is commonly known as Florida’s Sunshine Law. This law allows you or any other citizen and media outlet has access to this information. Again, I sincerely apologize that I have offended you. Please know that I am here if you ever need any assistance."
To which Steve answered:
"Senator, I appreciate getting any response however, I hope you will work to close the loophole that allowed this personal information access. All these little threads can be accumulated to create a more complete identify...and aid in theft.
Additionally, you and all other elected officials will be judged by your results in solving our problems more than your "electioneering" (those were the words used on your card).
I believe more attention to Water, Growth, Environmental protection, Education and any number of other critical Florida issues will be all consuming for you and the other elected officials. Thanks again for your prompt reply."
Now, I'm completely with Steve on the Big Brother aspect of this. Steve is also right about something else: the folks in Tallahassee have bigger fish to fry than elections, re-elections or glad-handing constituents.
But I have to disagree when he asks Charlie Dean and others "to work to close the loophole that allowed this personal information access." The government can find plenty of reasons to shut down public scrutiny of public information all on their own, and encouragement to do so only makes the public servants less accountable to the public. Please, Sen. Dean, just cross Steve Ellis off you Christmas card list, and leave the public records alone. |
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Re: A Hallmark moment |
By Kyle Culley on
12/19/2007 12:33 PM |
| I agree that we should leave the public records alone. Not so long ago it was possible to 'freely' access many County Clerk sites to check the status of a person you may be thinking of hiring, taking care of your child, or even meeting for dinner. Now, I am unfortunately denied access to much of this same information that I was able to 'peek' at less than a year ago. One of those 'peeks' saved me from involving myself with a person that has a history of family violence, another time with a felon who had stolen an airpplane and assulted a police officer. Yes, let's keep open the avenues of 'personal information access'. |
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