Dear Editor,
Apparently, “First, do no harm” no longer applies once one is a member of the United State House of Corporate Representatives. Perhaps not yet known to you (but soon to become all too clear), on Tuesday, March 28, 2017, all of our on-line privacies were sold off by one (and only one) party, in exchange for bribes -oops- campaign contributions from Internet and Phone companies.
Following the inevitable, unreadable executive scribble, every one of our clicks, swipes, searches, and downloads can be put upon the auction block, without our having any say in the matter (a different kind of auction from the past comes to mind). All of our activities can be sold by the cable and phone companies to cash-waving advertisers (actually to anybody, including the government, as a purchase would not require a warrant). The main result will be targeted advertising, based on all that you have done on-line, with no exceptions (unless you’re in Congress, of course). Ads in your browser, your email, on your phone; increased telemarketer calls, even in your mailbox, and an outside chance of the occasional salesman at your door. Some of it could be beyond embarrassing.
“So what, I’ve got nothing to hide” you say. Then congratulations are in order for never having committed a typo in a search, clicked a bogus link, or fell for a spam email or text, let alone never having had anyone else use your connection, including those very bright visiting grandchildren still up and about long after you’ve turned in.
Perhaps Dr. Roger Marshall assumes you will forget about him selling your privacy for 30 pieces of donated silver (actually $20,500), or that you’re too worn-down to care, or maybe that you’re just not bright enough to realize what he’s done to you and your family. When his re-election rolls around, I know I will remember. I may even take an apple with me on that day, to help keep him away, for good.

Tim Brackbill
Larned