"We are talking about how we know things and how we keep track of things -- and that information could help people take steps to avoid us knowing what they are up to, " said one official.

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"I would hesitate to speculate on how long that would take, because I just don't know how much follow-up and additional information might be generated when we take a look at it, " said Dr. Ron DeHaven, deputy administrator of animal, plant and health inspection services for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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You'd also need to know which of them were audited and how many times--information that is not part of the public record, and that many victims are afraid to reveal for fear of further IRS punishment.

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The challenge is to know how much information and analysis is needed for each step in a decision-making process.

FORBES: Operationalizing the Precautionary Principle for Biodiversity

And when giving our children the best education possible we know is the ingredient for success in this new information and technology-rich economy, how can we be laying off teachers -- when other countries are hiring teachers in droves?

WHITEHOUSE: Remarks by the President on the American Jobs Act

Because information is a powerful business asset, it is imperative that modern businesses have the know-how to operate in this increasingly global economy.

FORBES: Introducing Forrester's Data Privacy Heat Map