Quote From: miamimikeThe Identity Theft show missed the mark completely. By focusing on the bad brother the real issue was avoided. Identity theft is a misnomer created by corporations who are aided by a federal law called the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). A person's identity is intrinsic, it can't be stolen. What's getting stolen is money from large companies who are so anxious to make a profit they dont take the time to learn who theyre about to do business with. The real crime is that these companies have convinced us, and apparently Dr. Phil, that their losses are our problem. Dr. Phil said, ten million Americans have their identities ripped off every year. How big does this problem have to become before we get smart enough to demand our legislators rewrite the laws to protect individual citizens instead of rich, powerful corporations?
Companies use technology to maximize their profits, but when thieves exploit companies' loose business practices, companies cry, "identity theft" to obscure their own weaknesses. Try calling a credit card company and asking a simple question unrelated to personal information, such as their address to mail a payment... They wont give you the answer until you answer a litany of questions, all designed so youll feel good that theyre trying to protect your identity. But they apparently dont try very hard to protect our identities when it counts, when a thief applies for a new credit card by submitting a simple form using someone elses name.
Social security numbers, driver license numbers and other identifying data can never be secure because countless people have legitimate access to these data, including health care administrators, bank workers, and government employees. So instead of focusing on the impossible--trying to secure that which cannot be secured--we should be focusing on responsibility. Dr. Phil advocates personal responsibility now its time to advocate corporate and government responsibility. When a thief uses someone elses name to steal from a company, the company needs to accept responsibility for being swindled. Im not suggesting we forgive the thieves, only that we make the companies go after the thieves, not the innocent, third parties who had nothing absolutely nothing to do with the theft.
Dr. Phils show started off showing how staff members left account statements on their desks or in the trash. This stunt is just one more example of blaming the victim. What needs to be shown is how easily a thief can convince a company to open an account in someone elses name. Only then will this problem get fixed.
When a company or government agency errs in identifying someone, they should be responsible for their error. If a company incorrectly tells a credit bureau someone isnt paying their bills on time, then the company who made the mistake needs to be held accountable for the harm theyve caused. Only when they see a financial penalty for making mistakes that hurt innocent people will they take the time to carefully screen their potential customers. Government agencies also need to be held accountable when they act on incorrect information and harm innocent citizens.
When ten million of us are being victimized each year, we need powerful spokesmen like Dr. Phil to stand up and demand changes in the laws to protect the innocent and require those who make mistakes to accept responsibility for their mistakes.
Your point regarding the inaction and irresponsibility of business and government is well-stated and powerfully put! YOU GO, miamimike!
Morever, it's an invasion-of-person to HAVE to surrender information to the reprehensible (who amazingly remain impervious to constraint or punishment). Privacy-pledges have become shams with sneak-little 5-point-font attachments of self-obligation. (Be sure not to miss the line where they declare 'none of the preceding' applies to them!)
To keep violating the trust of innocents is to inflict harm--it errodes the spirit; clips their sense of freedom; confuses their sense of what's good and right anymore; undermines confidence that wants to cry 'I can do this'. Victimization, with deadbeat justice, only sucks out hope and eventually the soul of these trusting members of society.
Miamimike, you said that "A person's identity is intrinsic, it can't be stolen."
On a philosophical level, there are limits to just how much an individual can take physically and psychologically. Futility sidelines reason, as well as the sense of having personal value. The feeling of being valued is important in the base-mix of identity.
Many people maintain a solid sense of identity--well-prepared to handle life, and have ongoing resources and support to do so; whereas others fared without advantage of a guide to take them through and teach them how to process difficulties. It's a duty of the strong to be able to recognize and protect those whose coping may be more tenuous at times. In the Dr Phil show series I see that happening: as Dr. Phil works with these awesome and courageous guests, the unmentored in the audience vicariously glean from example, instruction and review. This improves the quality of lives...a precious gift to the individual and society-at-large.
Personally? The "wash" people accept from corporations and government convinces me: we must have all fallen into a trance! That blame/control thing you mentioned, miamimike? It has closed us in with really sharp craftiness--the kind that bypasses common-sense thinking. The public is numb to act in agreement, even against their closest peers and to our ultimate own demise!! Reminds me of the story, How to kill a frog in a kettle of water? First you put the frog in the water at room temp; then you light a fire under the kettle to heat it up. The frog doesn't sense the water being heated because he's constantly adapting to it. Eventually the frog is overcome and dies. Next, try to put a fresh frog in that kettle of boiling water and he instantly jumps out! because he's got better "sense"? <get it?sense?...ahem!>
As you pointed out, right now we're being had...coming AND going!
Can we really believe that an "individual's" privacy is secure? Perhaps there's a parallel between advances in computer technology as a whole, and a phenomenon encountered at a certain plateau of learning in the course of job training for that field?
'The volume of knowledge' amassed may be impressive, and the ability to perform it may be a surety -- BUT -- even though they know much, they actually do know just-enough to get them often in great BIG trouble!
Regarding the problem of public trust, I think of a story about an elephant, who believes he's invisible as he hides behind a sapling tree...with his eyes closed! The question is this: invisible "to whom?" Who is more deluded? The elephant hiding behind the tree? The keepers who "honestly" gave him the pamphlet vouching so?--(and because afterall it's only their "job" they cry non-responsibility if elephant gets hurt--though they all well know that it's likely that he will)? The owners who think they will get away with this? The sanctioning body that believes that the negative attention of "just getting caught" is enough to fix them?
Yes, miamimike. We may "need powerful spokesmen like Dr Phil to stand up and demand changes in the laws to protect the innocent..." In a way, he's already doing that by setting up shows that educate the public about "silent epidemics" in society... (i.e., the elephant sitting in the middle of the livingroom that no one wants to acknowledge or talk about). The problem is not necessarily in his celebrity-status--it's that his efforts are in vain unless people support him --and through actions, not just mental assent.
(Original Air Date: 04/17) Having a stranger steal from you is bad enough, but what happens when your own flesh and blood does it? Ricky and Ray say their brother, Robin, has been stealing their identities for years. Robin has used his older sibling’s ID to open lines of credit, rent a mobile home, and he even attempted to buy a Harley! Worst of all, they say Robin used their names when he was arrested, causing warrants to be issued for them. The problem is so out of control that Ricky’s fiancée, Robyn, is worried about taking his last name after the wedding, for fear of being mistaken for Robin. The brothers want to confront their younger sibling but haven't been able to locate him. With Dr. Phil's help, the confrontation finally takes place. This is a showdown you don’t want to miss! Plus, identity theft can happen anywhere … even at your job. Dr. Phil wants to see just how easily this fraud occurs, so staff members do a little snooping around the Dr. Phil offices at night to see what personal information they can find. You won’t believe what they dig up! Share your thoughts, join the discussion.
