Here's a simple, troubling aspect. The U.S. Government and state governments (and, I'm sure, foreign governments) increasingly seek to purchase private data fo

Here's a simple, troubling aspect. The U.S. Government and state governments (and, I'm sure, foreign governments) increasingly seek to purchase private data for mining, and to sell their data for revenue. The former is used particularly to make an end-run around legal restrictions placed on their own data gathering. And to create a firewall against oversight, with the activities of concern taking place in private entities not subject to public oversight. The latter is... well, many things, but it is particularly a political expedience; when you face opposition raising revenue directly, instead sell off some portion of the public good, as quietly as possible. (Remember, for example, state departments of motor vehicles (DMV) trying to launch plans to sell drivers' data, including photos, a few years back?) And, with the "revolving door" and ongoing sweetheart relationships between private and public positions and power brokers, there is also a large incentive of private and personal profit now driving this, as well. So. Government data collection is no longer really nor just government data collection. It is increasingly -- or, increasingly dominant and pervasive -- a collusion between extant powers for their own purposes. I don't want to be locked out of insurance, a job, etc. because my "profile" doesn't score high enough, or I friended the "wrong" person on Facebook. Nor do I want this to happen to others. In biology, advanced species exhibit increasing levels of autonomy from "the herd." Our species and culture needs to keep that in mind and the foster it; there is strength in diversity. And that is predicated on some autonomy and privacy. The ability and freedom to differentiate and to find new modes, new optimizations. And to find the simple happiness that fosters greater productivity, not to mention a better personal life. As an analogy, no one feels particularly comfortable with someone "staring over their shoulder" constantly -- particularly with a critical or condescending attitude. A happy life does not involve Big Brother guiding, constraining, and homogenizing your every step.