re: abstractions
We're getting quite a ways afield. The original subject was "privacy."
I pointed out the single entity in the U.S. that probably has more personal information on us than any other single entity, and that it collects this information under penalty of legal action if you refuse to provide it.
I also pointed out that this fact did not seem to warrant the attention of a group that was supposedly objectively analyzing the subject of privacy.
I'm glad you beat the IRS just by showing up and presenting some documents. I know personally two people who were not so fortunate, and believe me, you often need lawyers there, too.