The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is committed to advancing sound economic policy, limited government and respect for private property.  As champions of individual liberty we believe freedom from government monitoring is vital to a free society, and understand that people desire privacy in their private and commercial relationships as well.  We therefore are dedicated to keeping your personal data confidential and have adopted the following practices to assure the highest standards of nondisclosure. 

Cookies

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy does place cookies on the computers of visitors to our web site if the visitors' browsers are set to allow cookies.  These cookies are currently not used, but may be used in the future to discourage a voluntary survey respondent from submitting multiple surveys.

You can prevent all cookies from being placed on your computer by taking the following steps.  Note, however, that some web sites require cookies to be enabled in order for the user to have full access. 

Microsoft Internet Explorer Users:  From the TOOLS menu select INTERNET OPTIONS.  Select the SECURITY tab, and then CUSTOM LEVEL.  Scroll down to COOKIES and disable the two options found there.  Select OK when finished. 

Netscape Users:  From the EDIT menu select PREFERENCES. Select the ADVANCED category, From the COOKIES section select disable cookies. Select OK when finished.

IP Addresses 

Our web host captures IP Addresses, but only those of the visitor's individual service provider (ISP), not the visitor's personal computer.  We use the information to track traffic: number of hits, pages, sessions, etc.

Information We Gather or Track

We do not gather or track any information from visitors to our web site, unless they order a product or make a contribution to the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

If a visitor orders a product, we will request the customer's name and address in order to ship the product. We will send an invoice with the order, which allows the customer to pay by check, cash, or credit card.  All credit card information is held in strict confidence and given restricted access within the Center.

If a visitor decides to financially support the Mackinac Center for Public Policy by making a contribution, we will request the contributor's name and address.  Contributions may be made in the form of cash, check, credit card, stock, or gifts in-kind.  All credit card information is held in strict confidence and given restricted access within the Center.

What We Do With Collected Information 

If a visitor orders a product, we will keep the customer's name and address information on file and begin sending relevant publications.  If a customer does not want to receive our publications, the customer may indicate so in the comment section of the order form.  If the customer decides later to stop receiving our publications, the customer may make the request in one of the ways described here.

If a visitor decides to join the Mackinac Center for Public Policy by making a contribution, we will keep the contributor's name and address information on file and begin sending our regular publications.  If the contributor does not want to receive our publications, the contributor may indicate so in the comment section of the order form.  If the contributor decides later to stop receiving our publications, the contributor may make the request in one of the ways described here.

Who Uses Collected Information

Information that is collected through ordering a product or making a contribution is used solely by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.  We do not release, sell, or otherwise give out the names or addresses of our customers or contributors unless the customer or contributor has granted express permission to do so, except as required by law.

Children's Privacy

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy does not request or collect information from general visitors to our web site, thereby ensuring the privacy of children.  We do request names and addresses from individuals who order a product or make a contribution, however both of these items require payment.  Our site is not designed for children under 13 and does not seek to attract children under 13, although we long for the day when our educational system is such that young people 13 and under can profit from our work.

How to Contact the Mackinac Center for Public Policy

Should you need to contact the Mackinac Center for Public Policy for any reason, you may do so in one of the ways described  here.