Cincinnati is a nice place to visit, but we'd think twice now about moving there. The New York Times today reports that the city has put all of its county records on the Internet--details of divorces, tax liens, traffic tickets, arrest warrants, bond information and more.

Is this really necessary? Or even desirable? We don't think so. Trials, for example, are public but that doesn't mean all of them are televised. And the defendant must have an opportunity to address the court on the issue before a final decision is made. Trials should take place in courtrooms, not living rooms. Being open to the public should mean the public has the right to attend the proceeding, not that the public has a right to have all the details brought into their homes.

The same should apply to public records. If someone is interested, let them take a trip to their county courthouse and look through those that interest them. At a minimum, give someone notice and a chance to object before broadcasting the intimate details of their personal, financial and family lives to the world.

Privacy rights are indeed eroding in this country and we must do more to stem the tide. State and local governments increasingly are confronting this issue with little or no legal precedent. It's time to take a stand, and here's one you can take locally and make a difference.