I take it some posters, here, believe that in the interest of freedom, an employer should be free to ask anything and the prospective employee is free to walk away if he finds the question objectionable.... and that's that..... however, I don't think the issues of personal privacy, individual rights, and civil rights are that simple.
It just seems obvious to me that questions asked that don't directly relate to the description of the job sought by the applicant are for some *other* purpose.... and are as inappropriate in scope, detail, and intent as the governmental "nanny laws." And should get a big NOYB with clearly defined legislation to that effect.
However, it appears from some of the responses that this is a topic that is not likely to be subject to reasoned and civil debate and I think I'll just let it go with that.