This is frightening. Pardon my mood, but I feel like applying the "hammer-to-the-screw" fix on this. But is it ill-logical to create a class-action lawsuit against the government for negligent practices akin to those in the aforementioned article? What can the average citizens do?

My own parents think they are safe, because they carry no credit cards and only use a savings account to pay bills. I am trying to convince them otherwise, but in a household, where my Mother, not me, my Mother refers to my Father as "Daddy", I make little head-way.

TH13 and others - thoughts on this? Is there anything we can do to clamp down these practices?

I am also asking as I am getting more involved with our local politics and am going to start putting a buzz in the ear of a candidate I may be supporting. So those with government and/or political know-how, please advise.