You have to wonder whether some people are as inept as they seem. It’s as if a big cosmic side-view mirror has been held up to the world that says: “Warning: Incompetent people are closer than they appear.”
I realize that what may look like incompetence may just be stupidity that is not masked very well. And sometimes people are just assholes.
Be that as it may, I am sure a little of all those above characteristics may fit those responsible for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs employee taking his computer home and having it stolen along with data for more than 26 million veterans including yours truly. At first the VA said only names, birthdays and Social Security Numbers were all the data contained in the files. Now it turns out to be a little more than that, according to the VA:
“This data contained identifying information including names, social security numbers, and dates of birth for up to 26.5 million veterans and some spouses, as well as some disability ratings.”
But you can be sure your Bush administration is on the case — led by VA Secretary and former Republican National Committee chairman Jim Nicholson. How do I know they are on the case? Why they said so:
“The VA is working with members of Congress, the news media, veterans service organizations, and other government agencies to help ensure that those veterans and their families are aware of the situation and of the steps they may take to protect themselves from misuse of their personal information.”
They just didn’t say WHEN they would be working with all those entities. The VA made no pronouncements on the theft of the data until three weeks after it happened. Of course, given how long it takes to be seen by a doctor in some of the VA facilities, I guess it makes sense.
Sometimes you just wonder how society has come as far as it has.