By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The Trump administration’s data practices extend beyond suppressing information, focusing now on collecting and potentially weaponizing it against perceived adversaries. This includes demanding universities hand over lists of Jewish students under the guise of combating antisemitism, raising concerns about misuse. These actions echo a pattern of the administration sharing confidential records, such as tax and Social Security data, for purposes beyond their original intent. The consequences of these actions have the potential to damage trust in government agencies and diminish the quality of public data, which could affect the public’s willingness to comply with the law.
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Trump’s chilling weaponization of confidential government records: Remind me—who else in history made lists of Jewish intellectuals and people with disabilities?
The specter of governments compiling lists of specific groups, especially when those groups are marginalized or targeted for potential harm, is undeniably chilling. It’s a practice that should send shivers down the spine of anyone who values freedom and human rights. The Trump administration’s actions in collecting and potentially weaponizing federal data certainly raises those alarms. We see it with lists of immigrants, those with developmental disabilities, and even, disturbingly, lists of Jewish individuals.
This isn’t about mere data collection; it’s about the potential for abuse. The precedent of governments amassing information on groups they deem undesirable has a dark history. It’s a trajectory that can rapidly escalate, and we’ve seen it play out before.
Beyond Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union employed such tactics. The eugenics program in the United States, though not directly comparable, involved classifying and controlling certain populations. Vichy France and the Spanish Inquisition also engaged in such practices. The historical parallels are disturbing. It’s a pattern of identification, categorization, and ultimately, potential persecution.
The phrase “papers please” should resonate strongly. This is where it all begins. It starts with seemingly innocuous data collection, and it can quickly morph into a system of control and oppression. It’s not just Trump, it’s the larger framework being set in place. The left hand doesn’t always know what the right is doing, but the pattern of data collection, the creation of lists, and the targeting of specific groups is cause for serious concern. The administration’s infiltration by certain individuals is also a serious matter.
The idea of “undesirables” or “lives not worth living” echoes a dangerous rhetoric that has been used to justify unspeakable atrocities throughout history. Concentration camps, as defined legally by internment without due process, already exist on US soil.
Consider the role of the Dutch government during World War II. Local authorities in the Netherlands willingly provided lists of Jewish residents to the Nazis. Some cities volunteered these lists. This collaboration facilitated the deportation and extermination of tens of thousands of people. It’s a painful chapter of history, one that even a “woke” country like the Netherlands found difficult to acknowledge, but it serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked power and the complicity of those who remain silent.
And it’s a terrifying thing to witness, that people who have assistance, who are disabled, are being singled out with no recourse. The desire to terrorize those who are “different” should be considered the textbook definition of fascism.
The compilation of lists, particularly those targeting Jewish intellectuals and people with disabilities, is not just about collecting demographic data. It’s about laying the groundwork for potential discrimination, persecution, and worse.
Some might ask what is going on with the White House data center? It’s concerning. Why build a secret data center beneath the White House? What is this data being used for?
The collection and potential weaponization of this data is deeply concerning, regardless of the administration in power. Don’t forget the role of the tech companies. Big Tech like IBM and Palantir have been involved. The parallels to historical events are impossible to ignore. There is an attempt to sow distrust, division, and fear.
It is a chilling development, and one that demands our unwavering attention. We must be vigilant in safeguarding civil liberties and preventing the misuse of government power. This is not about political gamesmanship; it’s about upholding the fundamental values of a free and just society.