If the founding fathers had ever been cognizant of the need to protect oneself from something called "identity theft" they would have been appalled that free men would ever allow themselves to place themselves in a position where their lives were so totally dependent on a marketing system so remote, abstract and uncaring, and yet so vulnerable to criminals. And all because it was convenient. Convenient for who?

The list could go on indefinitely. Our world is organized for the convenience of others, and these others are abstract faceless organizations with agendas all their own. You are meaningful to them only in the aggregate. You cannot confront or participate in most of the decisions that impact your life directly. Even a slave knew who his master was.

Of course, times change, I wouldn't want to go back to the 18th century, but I can also see that economic life today is a very different thing than what the founders understood it to be. I believe that even more than the technology of today, what they would be most amazed about life today is how helpless we are in the face of the massive economic institutions that we have created. They had nothing to compare with it, not even the Hudson's Bay Company. We are totally at their mercy, we have given up our ability to take care of ourselves, along with the ability to make our own clothes, grow our own food, or even defend ourselves from brigands. Even the institutions that helped us such as church and family, are fading away. We buy every thing we need and earn the money to do so from the same faceless, distant "economy". We've paid a high price for our comfort.

I think if the founders had ever dreamt any of this might come to pass, the Constitution would have a few extra articles.