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From: welsch@houxu.UUCP (Larry Welsch)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: LISTS "Should Ice Cream Parlors Verify"
Message-ID: <503@houxu.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 4-Jan-85 13:44:46 EST
Article-I.D.: houxu.503
Posted: Fri Jan  4 13:44:46 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 5-Jan-85 03:13:24 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 25

I would like to comment on the following:

>	Farrells had sold their list to a marketing firm that passed it to the SS.
>	They were upset when they discovered its usage and got it back from them.
>	The SS felt that this was perfectly legal.

SS = Selective Service

There are 2 issues:  1) Does Farrells have the "right" to sell a
list of names of people and 2) Given that lists of names of people are
available does the government (IRS, SS, whoever) have the right to
purchase the lists to catch people breaking the law.  I fail to see how
the answer to question 2 can be anything than yes.  Why should the
government have fewer rights than anyone else.  

The answer to question 1 is more complex.  I believe that a person should
have to the right to be informed before her/his name is put on a list and
what uses the list is put too.  If a person does not want her/his name on
the list then she/he should have the right to have it removed.  There are
some lists to which this right does not apply, such as the list of known
criminals.  This is directly related to a person's right to privacy, which
is not a right guarenteed by the US constitution.

						Larry Welsch
						houxu!welsch