Letters to the Editor 03-02-1999
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- FDIC Rules - Drive Carefully - Reminiscing - Elected Officials - FDIC Proposal
FDIC Rules
If you have not heard already through media sources, there are new rules proposed by the Treasury Department along with the Federal Reserve and FDIC to require all commercial banks to require customers to reveal all sources of income. With that information, banks will establish a customer profile and monitor deposits and withdrawals and can choose to report to an international task force any deviation from routine as suspicious activity. Known as the Know Your Customer program for public relations reasons, the Minimum Security Devices and Procedures and Bank Secrecy Act Compliance Program will give unprecedented power for government surveillance of American citizens.Under this new program, any American could be investigated simply for having an unusual amount transacted in or out of his or her bank account.
There are already laws on the books to limit cash transactions before possible investigation to $10,000. Under the guise of tracking drug lords and other offenders, Know Your Customer eliminates protections we now enjoy under the 4th Amendment to the Constitution. This proposed program is a detestable intrusion on the privacy of every individual in this country and our future offspring.
No, the use of technology is not always wonderful. Do you want the government to have a personal profile of all of your spending habits? Is there not a danger at a future time of discriminating against American citizens by investigating ANYONE whom federal and international investigators might deem necessary based upon their criteria of potentially unlawful behavior? This program - Know Your Customer - is just another step toward the invasion of personal privacy and control over United States citizens.
Do you feel strongly that you don't want this kind of intrusion into your personal affairs and those of our future generations? Until March 8 the federal government will accept public comment upon the Know Your Customer Program. I urge you to write to voice your opposition to this terrible program. You can do it by mail or e-mail. The addresses are listed below.
Federal Deposit Insurance Company
Robert E. Feldman, Executive Secretary
Attention: Comments/OES
550 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20429
fax 202-898-3828
e-mail: [email protected]
One may contact the Treasury Department by faxing a response to 202-906-7755 or sending an e-mail response to [email protected]
To all of you who join in this protest of government intrusion, I thank you.
Richard Ellsworth, Winona Lake
Drive Carefully
Editor, Times-Union:The memory of those two kids who were recently killed is still on my mind. Having taught Drivers Education for 18 years, I feel that the high school kids must remember that just driving a car does not make you a good, decent driver in any case. In Indiana we have a lot of driving hazards on our streets and roads.
We have people driving with expired licenses and some with no license at all. The real and main hazard besides people is our weather. Rain, fog, icy streets and snowy roads are also some matters to consider. You must not drive on snowy and ice-covered streets and roads as though you are driving on dry streets. I know that a driver instructor or two will be angry about my last report to you. Perhaps the two deaths and my letters might be the thing to save one more life or two. Kids, there is more to just driving a car. Do not use cell phones. Keep your minds on driving and looking out for coming troubles. Kids, we all want you to become grandparents when the time comes.
Albert G. Smith, Warsaw
Reminiscing
Editor, Times-Union:Me and my wife were sitting and talking about how far we have come since 1937-38 when we used to go to an old medicine show in Kokomo, where the mall is now.
There was a medicine show and some nut selling watered-down gin with some other ingredients in it that were unknown. This stuff was said to stop bed-wetting, heal ulcers and skin rashes.
There was an old truck with the side down, and someone with a guitar would sing a few songs or tell a joke or two to get the 60 to 70 people warmed up.
In those days, an eighth grade education was like having a college degree, people would believe almost anything.
Back to the show ... I still remember my mother buying a bottle of that medicine because I wet the bed. It was clear and tasted like (bleep). It never worked, but the old man was a good salesman: 15 cents was all it cost for a 10-ounce bottle.
I looked over at my wife and said, "You know, that is almost like what we get from medicine today. Here you are working, have max care insurance and you and I pay $45 each and every month. But if you lose your job and don't have Medicare, we are lost, because it will take months to get Medicare back. Just like the old medicine show; $1000 a year for something that doesn't work or pay a darn thing.
"Honey, are we going backwards? Or are these college men in government operating on a sixth-grade education?"
She looked at me and smiled and said, "Well, back to the medicine show and the bed-wetting. At least the horses looked good, didn't they?"
Eugene F. Musgrave, Kewanna
Elected Officials
In reading the Times Union paper, Thursday's issue. The letter from Marvin Gunter, I don't think, any one of us could have said it better. We all know who benefits from this type of tax, the people that are pushing it. There have been several really good letters to the Editor of the Times-Union. In asking one's self, do they really do any good at all? These people that sit on these boards pretty well do what they want, not as the people want. When, one can see that, the people that are, or have set on these boards for several years, why vote these people back into office? Is it just because of being a Republican County? Or are people really that stupid, to put someone back to do the same crummy job they did before? It's like Clinton this first time he was voted into office. Gee, everybody you talked to didn't vote for him, but he mysteriously ended up in the White House. It is time for these commissioners to stop playing the scratching of one's back game. I would like to know what Avis Gunter does for a real living? She certainly likes to throw out all this expense for the taxpayers, she must like to spend it out in paying taxes. I feel really sorry for you people that can't vote honestly for someone, other than being for one party or the other. We need real people sitting on these boards, not back scratching, yes people. We need people for the people. Also, noticing the little Editor's note at the bottom of the page of Mr. Gunter's letter: Indiana Code - blah blah blah, anyway they slice it, they will do what they want after it is passed, code or no code.Sharon Galloway, Leesburg
FDIC Proposal
Editor, Times-Union:It has previously been noted that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is proposing a "Know you Customer Law" that would force banks to "monitor" (spy) our checking and savings accounts and report any "unusual transactions" to the federal government. The government claims it is trying to thwart money laundering and drug dealers. In a free society, the government has NO business asking where you get your money and how you spend it, and politicians have NO right to force your bank to monitor your account. This so-called "phony" war on drugs is not going to be an excuse for the abrogation of all of our civil rights if the people of this nation will stand up and be counted and put the federal, state and local government back in its proper place as a servant of the citizens of this republic and not our master.
If you find this alarming you may do one of the following prior to March 8, the arbitrary deadline set by the FDIC, for "public comment":
Go to the Internet at the following address (http://www.defendyourprivacy.com) and sign the petition there and it will be forwarded to the FDIC and a copy will go to both your representative in the U.S. House and both of your U.S. Senators. You may also write to Robert E. Feldman, Executive Secretary, Attn: Comments/OES, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 550 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20429. A fax line is available at 202-898-3838 or e-mail directly to: ([email protected]). Remember the time is now to deal with this invasion of our rights as free citizens of this republic. Respond today.
Michael R. Houze, Leesburg
[[In-content Ad]]
- FDIC Rules - Drive Carefully - Reminiscing - Elected Officials - FDIC Proposal
FDIC Rules
If you have not heard already through media sources, there are new rules proposed by the Treasury Department along with the Federal Reserve and FDIC to require all commercial banks to require customers to reveal all sources of income. With that information, banks will establish a customer profile and monitor deposits and withdrawals and can choose to report to an international task force any deviation from routine as suspicious activity. Known as the Know Your Customer program for public relations reasons, the Minimum Security Devices and Procedures and Bank Secrecy Act Compliance Program will give unprecedented power for government surveillance of American citizens.Under this new program, any American could be investigated simply for having an unusual amount transacted in or out of his or her bank account.
There are already laws on the books to limit cash transactions before possible investigation to $10,000. Under the guise of tracking drug lords and other offenders, Know Your Customer eliminates protections we now enjoy under the 4th Amendment to the Constitution. This proposed program is a detestable intrusion on the privacy of every individual in this country and our future offspring.
No, the use of technology is not always wonderful. Do you want the government to have a personal profile of all of your spending habits? Is there not a danger at a future time of discriminating against American citizens by investigating ANYONE whom federal and international investigators might deem necessary based upon their criteria of potentially unlawful behavior? This program - Know Your Customer - is just another step toward the invasion of personal privacy and control over United States citizens.
Do you feel strongly that you don't want this kind of intrusion into your personal affairs and those of our future generations? Until March 8 the federal government will accept public comment upon the Know Your Customer Program. I urge you to write to voice your opposition to this terrible program. You can do it by mail or e-mail. The addresses are listed below.
Federal Deposit Insurance Company
Robert E. Feldman, Executive Secretary
Attention: Comments/OES
550 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20429
fax 202-898-3828
e-mail: [email protected]
One may contact the Treasury Department by faxing a response to 202-906-7755 or sending an e-mail response to [email protected]
To all of you who join in this protest of government intrusion, I thank you.
Richard Ellsworth, Winona Lake
Drive Carefully
Editor, Times-Union:The memory of those two kids who were recently killed is still on my mind. Having taught Drivers Education for 18 years, I feel that the high school kids must remember that just driving a car does not make you a good, decent driver in any case. In Indiana we have a lot of driving hazards on our streets and roads.
We have people driving with expired licenses and some with no license at all. The real and main hazard besides people is our weather. Rain, fog, icy streets and snowy roads are also some matters to consider. You must not drive on snowy and ice-covered streets and roads as though you are driving on dry streets. I know that a driver instructor or two will be angry about my last report to you. Perhaps the two deaths and my letters might be the thing to save one more life or two. Kids, there is more to just driving a car. Do not use cell phones. Keep your minds on driving and looking out for coming troubles. Kids, we all want you to become grandparents when the time comes.
Albert G. Smith, Warsaw
Reminiscing
Editor, Times-Union:Me and my wife were sitting and talking about how far we have come since 1937-38 when we used to go to an old medicine show in Kokomo, where the mall is now.
There was a medicine show and some nut selling watered-down gin with some other ingredients in it that were unknown. This stuff was said to stop bed-wetting, heal ulcers and skin rashes.
There was an old truck with the side down, and someone with a guitar would sing a few songs or tell a joke or two to get the 60 to 70 people warmed up.
In those days, an eighth grade education was like having a college degree, people would believe almost anything.
Back to the show ... I still remember my mother buying a bottle of that medicine because I wet the bed. It was clear and tasted like (bleep). It never worked, but the old man was a good salesman: 15 cents was all it cost for a 10-ounce bottle.
I looked over at my wife and said, "You know, that is almost like what we get from medicine today. Here you are working, have max care insurance and you and I pay $45 each and every month. But if you lose your job and don't have Medicare, we are lost, because it will take months to get Medicare back. Just like the old medicine show; $1000 a year for something that doesn't work or pay a darn thing.
"Honey, are we going backwards? Or are these college men in government operating on a sixth-grade education?"
She looked at me and smiled and said, "Well, back to the medicine show and the bed-wetting. At least the horses looked good, didn't they?"
Eugene F. Musgrave, Kewanna
Elected Officials
In reading the Times Union paper, Thursday's issue. The letter from Marvin Gunter, I don't think, any one of us could have said it better. We all know who benefits from this type of tax, the people that are pushing it. There have been several really good letters to the Editor of the Times-Union. In asking one's self, do they really do any good at all? These people that sit on these boards pretty well do what they want, not as the people want. When, one can see that, the people that are, or have set on these boards for several years, why vote these people back into office? Is it just because of being a Republican County? Or are people really that stupid, to put someone back to do the same crummy job they did before? It's like Clinton this first time he was voted into office. Gee, everybody you talked to didn't vote for him, but he mysteriously ended up in the White House. It is time for these commissioners to stop playing the scratching of one's back game. I would like to know what Avis Gunter does for a real living? She certainly likes to throw out all this expense for the taxpayers, she must like to spend it out in paying taxes. I feel really sorry for you people that can't vote honestly for someone, other than being for one party or the other. We need real people sitting on these boards, not back scratching, yes people. We need people for the people. Also, noticing the little Editor's note at the bottom of the page of Mr. Gunter's letter: Indiana Code - blah blah blah, anyway they slice it, they will do what they want after it is passed, code or no code.Sharon Galloway, Leesburg
FDIC Proposal
Editor, Times-Union:It has previously been noted that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is proposing a "Know you Customer Law" that would force banks to "monitor" (spy) our checking and savings accounts and report any "unusual transactions" to the federal government. The government claims it is trying to thwart money laundering and drug dealers. In a free society, the government has NO business asking where you get your money and how you spend it, and politicians have NO right to force your bank to monitor your account. This so-called "phony" war on drugs is not going to be an excuse for the abrogation of all of our civil rights if the people of this nation will stand up and be counted and put the federal, state and local government back in its proper place as a servant of the citizens of this republic and not our master.
If you find this alarming you may do one of the following prior to March 8, the arbitrary deadline set by the FDIC, for "public comment":
Go to the Internet at the following address (http://www.defendyourprivacy.com) and sign the petition there and it will be forwarded to the FDIC and a copy will go to both your representative in the U.S. House and both of your U.S. Senators. You may also write to Robert E. Feldman, Executive Secretary, Attn: Comments/OES, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 550 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20429. A fax line is available at 202-898-3838 or e-mail directly to: ([email protected]). Remember the time is now to deal with this invasion of our rights as free citizens of this republic. Respond today.
Michael R. Houze, Leesburg
[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092