USDA exposes citizen data

These data breaches at various government entities have been happening so frequently that they don't even seem all that shocking anymore. But, of course, exposure of American citizens' data is serious business, especially when it's related to those citizens' receipt of federal aid.

Since I'm not a hacker, I have to wonder: how did the private information of so many people became available to the public via the open Web? What measures are in place, or are lacking, in terms of protecting this information at the federal level? The USDA owes us an explanation.

Some Americans Lack Food, but USDA Won't Call Them Hungry. By Elizabeth Williamson, Washington Post, Thursday, November 16, 2006; Page A01

The USDA has eliminated the term "hunger" from the categories it uses to describe impoverished households. The U.S. government has vowed that Americans will never be hungry again. But they may experience "very low food security." This is absolutely horrendous that in the world's richest country (to say nothing of the 820 million hungry people in the rest of the world!), 12 percent of Americans -- 35 million people!! -- could not put food on the table at least part of last year.

This is a good time to review Jessamyn's post from a few months back entitled, "reduce, reuse, and recycle... food." If the numbers above sicken you, please consider donating food and/or time to your local Food Not Bombs and/or donate food at your local food bank.

Documents quoted:

• Household Food Security in the United States, 2005. US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• The State of Food Insecurity in the World. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)