The internet made its way into almost everyone’s home, making personal privacy obsolete for the majority of people especially those of limited computer literacy, and financial means. Yet, the chorus sung from these people, whose privacy had just been stolen from them, was mostly “ who cares…. I have nothing to hide”.
I would say that most people have nothing to hide; sadly that doesn't prevent assaults on people on all the various levels. Human nature is not always so nice. Sometimes I think of life as musical chairs and someone is always going to be bumped out of their assets or rights no matter now innocent they are so someone else can be saved.
It takes one burglar, one time, to raid your home, or rape your family.
It takes only one computer screw up, or misunderstanding to keep one on the airlines "no fly" list.
If innocence and goodness was the Shield of Power to keep one safe, we would not be living in the world we are living in. Most of us have nothing to hide, that doesn’t always keep us safe from others, including those claiming authority. Sometimes having the attitude that we have nothing to hide actually makes us an easier target for a crime.
Police officers and criminal attorneys repeatedly caution that in life, and especially law, one’s innocence can mean nothing in keeping you out of jail or safe from attack. They will say things like: “If I follow someone long enough, I will catch them doing something wrong.” What well known attorney said, "Show me the man, and I will show you the crime."
Innocence, and having nothing to hide is a perceptive, those looking for something may be looking for something you have no idea that interests them. In the reality of human nature, and the reality of the law, a human being really DOES NOT know if they have nothing to hide. What lawyer, politician, or sheriff, let alone the average person know all the millions of laws on the books on a national, state, county and local level?
Why do lawyers always tell their clients, even if they are innocent, not to talk to the feds? I so wish this was an honorable world.
I caution people who say they have nothing to hide to widen their perspective and understand of law enforcement, and politics on every level, as well as human nature.
People can lie. People can be jealous. People may need or want what you have. People can be vindictive. People can be emotionally or mentally unbalanced on both side of the law, and civilized society.
There was a reason why the Founders of America forced the Fourth Amendment, and other protections, and it had nothing to do with being guilty, or having something to hide. It had everything to do with human nature, and for the benefit of those who have nothing to hide.
Anyone revealing openly their hand in life, especially weakness, vulnerability or naivety, quickly becomes the target of those who do have something to hide.
I had a lovely associate, an older woman, financially well off. She didn't have anything to hide. Some DC lawyer wanted her land. She refused to sell. He had a banker friend revealed her assets to him. Together they planned a strategy that would assault her financially ... totally illegal and unethical. Do people who think they have nothing to hide forget that there are people with power and authority who are only are law abiding when it suits them? It took this lawyer and banker three years until they drove this lovely older lady into bankruptcy, forcing the sale of her property. Something they would have never achieved had her assets and vulnerabilities been kept private.
We all like to think we have nothing to hide. Sadly, not everyone plays by the same rules. The Founders understood the Shield of Power that privacy offers the innocent.
As always just my opinion