Out of the Loop and Wary: The Disenfranchised

Hi, I've been doing a lot of reflecting lately over the increasing disenfranchisement of those who don't want to have their personal information "splashed" all over the Internet. It is discerning to say the least when potential employers ask you for personal information before they hire you. Yes, I do understand their concerns about hiring someone that could potentially wreck their business. What I don't understand is what happened to trusting the person enough to give them a chance? It seems like I'm being judged by what I can't control.

I am admittedly out of the loop when it comes to all the new technology and assurances that personal information will be safe. It seems to me that there wasn't a big issue with personal information getting into the wrong hands before the Internet. I am wary of employers who ask for very sensitive information online. This has hurt me because it seems that everyone is being too careless about what they share online. I am extremely uncomfortable about sharing personal information online. I have learned to open up a little because I needed to in order to search for employment.

There is a whole group of people out there however that are disenfranchised because they don't want to get online or have no desire to get on a computer. These people are understandably wary of the government's attempts to "push" them online by not having alternatives to getting information or getting much needed services. For them the push to get everyone online to do everything smacks a bit too much like "Big Brother". I do tend to agree in part with that premise. It is all about control. The media controls what information we see and has tried unsuccessfully (so far) to control how we think and feel. One of the biggest "pushes" is how we transact business and our currency. It is a bit frightening in a way when you realize how the governments of the world are pushing electronic currency. This is also one of the biggest obstacles for the disenfranchised.

Contrary to popular belief not everyone uses credit and debit cards to pay for items. Some of us still  prefer cash because it is solid and tangible...unlike electronic currency. Then there's the increasing push not to accept cash at certain restaurants or making the person who hands you cash feel like a pariah for having it. It just isn't right.