COVID-19 Outbreak (Update: More than 2.9M cases and 132,313 deaths in US)

I don't know that I'd use a fake name. I'm just saying that if I ate under those terms, that would be how I'd do it. And it would be obviously so as a form of protest. But I don't know that I'd do that, for some of the moral concerns mentioned. I'd probably just go to a restaurant in a neighboring parish honestly. Also, I have no love of crime cameras or traffic cameras so I don't see the point in using them as a justification for requiring a restaurant to provide my personal information to the city of New Orleans. The argument that existing privacy violations somehow justify this one is odd.

As for the census, I do participate as compelled by law. However, I'm sure you can see the difference between a census and the government compelling a private company to collect the personal information of their customers in order to operate. I'm under no misunderstandings about the current situation in which my privacy is near zero inasmuch as I use a phone or email or search engine (non pornographic of course). And the relationship between the government and the private companies that collect and sell that data are obviously a problem. But again, that doesn't justify the explicit compulsion of requiring private businesses to collect and provide customer data in order for them to operate. It's way over the line, even if the intention is good. Most tyrannical oversteps are justified to the public by seemingly good intention.

Concerning churches participating in logging for the mayor, I will not attend mass at a church that will require me to give information to the mayor of New Orleans. It was an immediate concern of mine. I'd be seriously troubled if the bishop tried to operate under those terms. It'd probably violate all sorts of canon law. If politicians press on the matter we will witness a serious gut check for the Church in which bishops will decide whether they are good little civil servants of the temporal order or apostles and ministers in the priesthood of Christ our Lord. I received the archdiocesan letter this morning and saw no mention of logging and it was obviously up to date on information. I'm eager to see what my parish says.

Hey Brennan - I'd like to hear more perspective on why this data collection concerns you. Just trying to understand why you, like many others, are so concerned about this. Maybe I am missing something. Heck, most restaurants I go to these days require a reservation, and I am already giving them this data.

From my viewpoint, the government already collects or has access to as much data on us as they need for any sort of deep state or privacy invasion conspiracy. Us giving them the assist here is simply about being able to quickly ascertain facts in the case of another outbreak, while also serving as a small mental reminder to people that life outside of the house is not to be treated like everything is fine and normal.