Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why do you think financial privacy is so important, and how is it related to human rights?
Why should I care about civil liberties and financial privacy? If I’m not doing anything illegal, I shouldn’t have anything to worry about anyway.
How do you decide which political candidates to support, and where do you fit in on the political spectrum?
What about 9/11? Didn’t that change everything?
But politics is just politics. Always has been, always will be.
There are lots of other civil liberties groups, why do we need another one?
Why criticize the government while we’re at war and disagree with basically everything the government does?
How can I help you, and where else can I get accurate information?

Q. Why do you think financial privacy is so important, and how is it related to human rights?

A. Despotic governments historically have used financial information and confiscation to silence critics or worse: Hitler used insurance company records to identify Jews; kings historically used civil asset forfeiture to bankrupt critics; and governments today use bank records to ascertain personal information for many purposes.

Q. Why should I care about civil liberties and financial privacy? If I’m not doing anything illegal, I shouldn’t have anything to worry about anyway.

A. Everyone suffers from higher taxes and other economic costs, more restricted choices and unintended consequences. By-products of the first Federal anti-money laundering laws have been an epidemic of identity fraud and our loss of control over our personal information once it is shared in the public domain.

Q. How do you decide which political candidates to support, and where do you fit in on the political spectrum?

A. As a non-profit advocacy and research organization, we do not endorse any political candidates. We consider ourselves classical liberals (libertarians)—but we like to think of ourselves as “liberals with class”.

Q. What about 9/11? Didn’t that change everything?

A. Securing our liberty after 9/11 is more crucial than ever. Throughout history, governments expand power out of proportion in times of crisis. What has not changed is the need to verify that new security measures truly make us safer. Demagoguery excuses incompetence instead of demanding results. More privacy actually equals better security if handled responsibly.

Q. But politics is just politics. Always has been, always will be.

A. It doesn’t have to be that way. Our Founders envisioned a small government that respected human rights and civil liberties and avoided foreign entanglements. Their vision lasted for several decades. If we return to the principles of the Founders, we can restore liberty and justice for all.

Q. There are lots of other civil liberties groups, why do we need another one?

A. Yes, there are other groups that work to protect civil liberties and human rights. We uniquely bridge together the civil liberties, human rights and privacy groups with the communities working to preserve economic and personal freedom.

Q. Why criticize the government while we’re at war and disagree with basically everything the government does?

A. While we love this country, we believe America has strayed too far from its Founding principles and fear for the liberty our Founders loved.

Q. How can I help you, and where else can I get accurate information?

A. You can help by donating, becoming an “extern,” telling others about us, linking to our site, and/or staying informed. See our links for sites that provide more information.