Thank you, Supreme Court, for this farce. Y’all, I’ve been worried about this for awhile. There is SO much information in SS files. SO much information I don’t want them to have because who knows what they will do with it? Send it to Elon Musk? I think they’re already building a database with what they’ve accessed so far!
When people think of Social Security, they typically think of monthly benefits — for the roughly 69 million retirees, disabled workers, dependents and survivors who receive them today. But efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency this year to access the Social Security Administration’s data systems should conjure up thoughts of data on hundreds of millions of people. Why? Because the SSA’s multiple data systems contain an extensive trove of personal information on most people living in the United States today — as well as those who have died.
Now you know why I, and others, have been having a fit about them getting into Social Security. All that information on top of what I’m sure they’ve hacked so far. Thais is *dangerous*. We have no choice. We have NO CHOICE. And here’s why. From CNN:
While a lower federal court had blocked DOGE’s efforts to access such data — which it argued it needs in order to curtail waste, fraud and abuse — the Supreme Court lifted that order on Friday, allowing DOGE to access the data for now. The three liberal justices — Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson — dissented. In her opinion, Jackson wrote, “The government wants to give DOGE unfettered access to this personal, non-anonymized information right now — before the courts have time to assess whether DOGE’s access is lawful,” she added.
Again, thank you, Supreme Court, for nothing. You just approved what will make a bigger mess. And making any decisions based on mistaken interpretations could create real-world problems for individuals. Sure, the system is old, but at the very least, you need to understand it before making any changes.
Charles Blahous, a senior research strategist at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, has been a leading proponent of addressing Social Security’s long-term funding shortfall. And he is all for rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse. But, Blahous noted, “best estimates of improper payments in Social Security are less than 1% of the program’s outlays. I’ve been concerned that this particular conversation is fueling profound misimpressions about Social Security and the policy challenges surrounding it.”
Exactly. The SSA office has already done the work on improper payments. DOGE doesn’t need to come in and make more assumptions to tear SS apart. Again, you need to understand the current system!
SSA’s data systems are housed in locked rooms, and permission to view — never mind alter — information on them has always been highly restricted, Kathleen Romig, having worked with the Social Security Administration previously, said, noting that she was fingerprinted and had to pass a background check before being allowed to view data for her research while at the agency — and it could only be data that had no personally identifiable information. Given the variety of personal data available, there are also a number of federal privacy and other laws limiting the use and dissemination of such information. Such laws are intended to prevent not only improper use or leaks of the data by individuals, but also abuse of power by government, according to the Center on Democracy and Technology.
Gee – isn’t that interesting? Prevent abuse of power by the government. Well, unless the Supreme Court overrides you. I don’t know what the heck is going on with them to allow DOGE access after all. But considering I’m on Social Security, this worries me more than I can say. A couple of last quotes for you, still from CNN, and then we can close.
DOGE’s arrival at the SSA resulted in a number of seasoned employees leaving the agency, including Michelle King, a long-time career service executive who briefly served as acting commissioner from January 20 until February 16. She resigned after DOGE staffers attempted to access sensitive government records. In her place, SSA employee Lee Dudek was named acting director.
Dudek put out a statement on SSA’s “Commitment to Agency Transparency and Protecting Benefits and Information” when he came on. In it, he noted that DOGE personnel: a) “cannot make changes to agency systems, benefit payments, or other information”; b) “only have read access” to data; c) “do not have access to data related to a court ordered temporary restraining order, current or future”; and d) “must follow the law and if they violate the law they will be referred to the Department of Justice for possible prosecution.”
Violate the law, to be referred to the Department of Justice. Yea, that “ain’t” happening. It hasn’t happened so far, and it’s tRump, the man WHO PAINTS HIS FACE ORANGE’s DOJ, after all. He can say will be referred to the DOJ, but. But. So hold on to your hats, folks. Prepare for the worst because it’s already started happening, and it won’t get any better. Thanks for sticking with me!
*****From Ursula ******
Friends, we’re in a dark passage here. We started losing traffic last November, when the entire country got fed up with politics. Added to that have been my health problems over the past two months. We’re falling behind financially. If you can help in any way, it would be appreciated. I’m doing my best to get back in the saddle again. Thank you.
u should read Kanji Brown’s dissent, it’s like she just woke up to what her “colleagues” are up to!🤣
I think she was awar . but never voiced it. however, this could could lead to the Chinese system of social credits and have serious implications for peoples ability to get healthcare etc in the future and