Can a person do more than deactivate a Facebook account, can they totally delete it? How?

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I have heard that our government may soon change privacy laws and use your own personal Facebook information against you if they think you are a risk. A Facebook account is like a running Dossier, also a psychological profile and a record of your personal activities as well as contacts. The future of our freedoms might be under the gun soon.
The truth is that most of you gave excellent answers so how does one vote for best answer? I guess I should leave it to the Yahoo community to decide.
The link Koala and Cameron H gave worked. I no longer have a Facebook account although they give you 2 weeks to change your mind or not. They said it is permanent. I decimated all the information before I did it in the hope there will not be a record but we all know that nothing is ever really permanently deleted is it? Oh well, I had my reasons, some had to do with privacy issues while others were the problems I had with Facebook in general. I do feel relieved somehow getting rid of it, kind of like an unwanted responsibility lifted off my shoulders. I really doubt I will start a new Facebook account. Hey everyone, thanks for your answers! Best Regards!