Does a good man, himself a victim of torture, enable his own government to torture?

I am starting to think it may be revenge.

from their website

The Social Security number was originally devised to keep an accurate record of each individual’s earnings, and to subsequently monitor benefits paid under the Social Security program. However, use of the number as a general identifier has grown to the point where it is the most commonly used and convenient identifier for all types of record-keeping systems in the United States.
Specific laws require a person to provide his/her number for certain purposes. While we cannot give you a comprehensive list of all situations where a number might be required or requested, an Social Security number is required/requested by:

* Internal Revenue Service for tax returns and federal loans;
* Employers for wage and tax reporting purposes;
* States for the school lunch program;
* Banks for monetary transactions;
* Veterans Administration as a hospital admission number;
* Department of Labor for workers’ compensation;
* Department of Education for Student Loans;
* States to administer any tax, general public assistance, motor vehicle or drivers license law within its jurisdiction;
* States for child support enforcement;
* States for commercial drivers’ licenses;
* States for Food Stamps;
* States for Medicaid;
* States for Unemployment Compensation;
* States for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families; or
* U.S. Treasury for U.S. Savings Bonds

The Privacy Act regulates the use of Social Security numbers by government agencies. When a Federal, State, or local government agency asks an individual to disclose his or her Social Security number, the Privacy Act requires the agency to inform the person of the following: the statutory or other authority for requesting the information; whether disclosure is mandatory or voluntary; what uses will be made of the information; and the consequences, if any, of failure to provide the information.
If a business or other enterprise asks you for your number, you can refuse to give it. However, that may mean doing without the purchase or service for which your number was requested. For example, utility companies and other services ask for a Social Security number, but do not need it; they can do a credit check or identify the person in their records by alternative means.
Giving your number is voluntary, even when you are asked for the number directly. If requested, you should ask why your number is needed, how your number will be used, what law requires you to give your number and what the consequences are if you refuse. The answers to these questions can help you decide if you want to give your Social Security number. The decision is yours.
For more detailed information, we recommend the publication Your Social Security Number And Card .

and the card enables you to go on line and use usually fee based data bases

I think he’s a good man.

That little quote may be the ultimate description of the depths to which John McCain has sunk after deciding to surrender all principles in pursuit of the nomination.
Does a good man pardon the person most responsible for the world’s black market in nuclear technolgy?
Does a good man refuse to investigate his own military officer’s role in wiring money to Mohammad Atta?
Does a good man allow his own government to obscure the cause of death in the most important political assissination since the turn of the century?
McCain himself was once a good man.
Does a good man, himself a victim of torture, enable his own government to torture?

here’s the thing though. I think McCain’s the next president. Bloomberg is gonna run, however briefly (what is this thing coalescing around him with Boren, Nunn, and chuck hagel?These guys are dc power hitters). That will shift the mentality of the country away from awareness of edwards populist message of throw the bums out. Obama’s got no such message and will take the votes of the idealists, and we’ll be left with McCain, who (unlike Hil for some reason) Americans seem to feels deserves to be pres cause he’s old and nice and was a POW who lived to tell about it. A one of his volunteers said, “The last true great american hero.” Now the papers are saying “Mack is back!” (As in Mack the Knife, but who’s paying attention?).

Nice McGovern said what he did though about impeachment. Impeachment is really the only thing that ’s gonna get the country back on the rails. Without that, more of a runaway train, no matter who’s pres/

sorry to be a monday bummer.
at least it’s warmin up here in maine.