The privacy of the individual is the most important right. Without privacy, the democratic system that we know would not exist. Privacy is one of the fundamental values on which our country was founded. There are exceptions to privacy rights that are created by the need for defense and security.
When our country was founded, privacy was not an issue. The villages then were small and close. Most people knew their neighbors and what was going on in the community. They did not have drunk drivers, terrorist, or any other threat of changing the way they lived. The transportation that most people had access to were horses. Today there are autos that can be fatal if not controlled. Speed limits and licenses are two examples. The government we have in place maintains and organizes our society.
The elements of control are often viewed as violations o
f privacy. These elements are meant to protect us from irresponsible people and from hurting themselves. The laws that are in place still give privacy without invading personal lives. Privacy is only violated when people feel they are being violated. Jonathan Franzen writes this example of his feelings about privacy.
Home and at work are the places where people spend most of their time. As privacy is continuously be tested, there will be new laws and regulations as to exactly what our privacy rights are. With technology on the fastest growth in history there will also be laws on electronic privacy and the selling of personal information. Public interactions and dealings in business should be subject to some observation but the home should be where the right to privacy is the most important.
Privacy in the workplace is also becoming a problem. More employees are being monitored today then ever before and more companies a