Readers' Comments

Reader Comments on Aardvark Daily 7 Mar 2001

Note: the comments below are the unedited submissions of readers and do
not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher.

From: Rob K
For : The Editor (for publication)
Subj: Bruce the Big Brother Advocate ;p)

Bruce... It's not just the "slippery slope" of digital id
that threatens the sanctity of individualism, it's
the "branding" of Jews in Nazi Germany that will forever
ride in our memories (hopefully forever) and keep us ever
mindfull of corrupt people in leadership positions.

That's the catch.  "Government" as an intity is
nothing.  "Government" in the context of the leadership is
everything.  LEADERS... The people at the top...

If we succumb to the desirabilities of universal
identification, then we run the risk of unscruppulous
leadership doing TERRIBLE things.

However, the theory isn't totally devoid of value!  We
already see it's use throughout the secure data world in
the form of personal identification cards with unique key
encryptions to identify authorized users and access.
Examples:  Magnetic door swipe cards; the magnetic strip on
the back of many drivers' licenses in the US; the PCMCIA
card with an encryption key and digital ID, used in
conjunction with a short PIN, which is phisically inserted
into a computer PCMCIA port to access global databases from
anywhere in the world over anyone's system with Internet
access and a PCMCIA slot.

These few examples are VERY useful tools.  However,
universal application and mandatory requirement? I think
not.

As to the census itself:  YOU MUST DO IT IN PERSON WITH
SIGNATURE BY LOCATION.  No other way around the totem pole
will allow an accurate census with minimal cheating.  Look
at the latest census in the US! It was rampent with
attempted fraud on the part of government leadership! They
wanted to use statistical tools to "determine" ethnic and
other demographic dispersion to "realign" government powers
and assets.  DANGER!

Heed the warnings of history.  Those who fail to learn from
it are destined (doomed) to repeat it.

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