Letters to the Editor: Learning from the Romans, Flock data needs to be safeguarded

EDITOR'S NOTE: The views and opinions expressed are those of the writer and not of Ottawa News Network.

A consequential choice

We face a consequential choice in the November election: to become an authoritarian country under Trump by voting Republican or remain a democracy by voting Democrat. Our democracy is a representative government under the Constitution with the rule of law and shared prosperity.

Keeping Republicans in office means blind obedience to Trump’s whims, an endless war in Iran without purpose, millions losing healthcare, a stagnant economy with high inflation and outrageous tariffs and ridiculous gas prices.

Think of the attacks Trump has wrought on Social Security, Medicare, the right to vote, freedom of religion, the environment, the National Parks and historic sites, innocent immigrants and more! We have become a divided country, isolated in the world from allies but close to dictators. Trump cares only for enriching himself and billionaires who support him. His concerns are for money — not people!

A vote for Democrats is a vote for the Constitution and balancing powers: ensuring that Congress is responsible for spending, holds power over war, and establishes legislative priorities with the needs and hopes of ordinary Americans in mind.

Democrats, the creators of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid will secure these earned benefits. They will continue the quest for living wages, healthcare, strong public health and affordability. Democrats will protect the rivers, lakes, public lands and National Parks from polluters and profiteers and emphasize clean energy for the future. 

Americans have a clear choice in November: daily trauma under Donald Trump, dictator in chief, or a government established by the people and for the people.

Bob Bird
Holland

Rome and America 

Why did the Roman Empire collapse in the Fifth Century? Because of military adventures it could not pay for. 

The No. 1 reason for Roman decline was debt. It could not raise enough taxes to pay for its military and it went broke. Rome's enemies saw this weakness clearly, and pounced.

Sound familiar? 

America is over $40 trillion in debt, and each day the war with Iran is adding $2 billion to this debt. 

America is in steep decline. I was born in 1947, and for most of my life, we have been in needless wars, costing us trillions that could have used for healthcare, education, housing, etc. A Cadillac when I was in high school cost about $5,000. Today it costs close to $100,000. A Coke cost a dime — today, in the vending machine at the YMCA, a Coke costs a few bucks.

We have inflation because the government keeps spending money we do not have, thus flooding the money supply with borrowed money.

I see little outrage among Americans and the media about this debt and our decline. I think our government has been failing us for decades in terms of fiscal responsibility. Both parties are guilty in this regard.

This is the season of political ads. Do you see any dealing with debt?

American have their heads in the sand. When will we go the way of Rome? The Roman Empire lasted for centuries. Then went into quick decline due to war and debt. Is that our fate?

Henry Idema
Grand Haven

We need clear laws that safely guard data

This is in response to the September 13 story by Bridge Michigan titled, Amid ‘mass proliferation,’ Flock cameras emerge as key election issue; candidates seek safeguards.

Despite the assurances of local political leaders and police departments, recent changes to Flock’s user agreement do not engender confidence that our data will be safely guarded.

Flock knew how the data it collected was liable to be misused.

What did Flock do? They expanded their contractual terms and conditions:

• Flock deleted “Flock does not own and shall not sell Customer Data.”
• Flock grants “ownership” of data to the customer, but reserves “the exclusive right to determine and control the method, timing, format, and medium” of access to the data.
• Flock reserves a “perpetual” right for Flock to use customer data to “support and improve” its services, and Flock’s right to use such data has no expiration date.

Flock has increased its protections against liability for willful misconduct or gross negligence, potentially shifting the costs of data breaches and other failures from the company to taxpayers. It mandates private arbitration under Georgia law when there is a contract dispute and makes it harder for customers to terminate Flock contracts, including when a town or city council votes not to approve a contract or fails to appropriate the funds.

None of these engenders confidence that our data will be safely guarded.

Let’s not fool ourselves; Flock is a large private company interested in making profits. It sells its services to a far-reaching web of police and other governmental entities.

Such a massive private/governmental system is very difficult to control. Assurances from Flock and police agencies are not enough. We need clear laws that safely guard data on how we, law-abiding citizens, lead our lives.

Joseph Abramajtys
Jenison

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