LTTE: Biometric mark of the beast?

[RC]

Is it or is it not such a great leap into an age much represented in Hollywood when we will no longer have to bother with cash, checkbooks or passports? Instead all we need to use to buy or sell is our fingerprint.

You would expect to read about this in Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” or George Orwell’s “1984,” but it’s actually happening … and it’s only the beginning. The “Just Touch and Go” article glorified this technology in the Wednesday, Jan. 4, business section of The Forum. The story was about the new finger scanning machines being implemented at Hornbacher’s, Cash Wise and other retailers in the Fargo-Moorhead area.

We are now seeing scanning technology at not just retailers, but many workplaces require finger scanning to clock in at work, and a friend of mine finger scans to register for her orthodontist’s appointment in Moorhead. At the moment, biometrics is seen as a great convenience for customers who choose to use it. If I was confident that it would stay that way I wouldn’t be writing. I’m writing about what is to eventually become of biometrics if we let it spiral out of control. With children finger scanning to get school lunches in some school districts and adults finger scanning to buy groceries, we are being trained to use our biometric signatures as payment and identification.

<SNIP>

When you scan your finger or any other part of your body, it becomes digital information. Digital information can be easily copied, easily transferred and easily altered. I am worried that people will think that finger scanning is more secure than money. I admit it has it ups and downs, but what happens if you lose your credit card? Cancel it? Replace it? No problem. What happens if your biometric data gets stolen? Cancel it? Replace it? Once your biometric data is compromised, it’s compromised for life.

<SNIP>

President Bush said a few years ago that it was one of his goals that America becomes cashless by the year 2007. It may not happen that soon, but the new “beast” system is definitely a leap in that direction.

Cash is the only form of payment that keeps people and transactions anonymous. Under the new biometrics and microchip technology system out there, cash will be a thing of the past. All transactions will be traceable, you will be identified, and every move you make will be recorded – now that’s what I call freedom.

>MORE<
http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=114327§ion=Opinion

This guy is dead on.
If you want the whole LTTE and can't get in PM me.

[ellenfl]

1. i think he was misunderestimated . . .

President Bush said a few years ago that it was one of his goals that America becomes cashless by the year 2007.

i think he meant that most of us would be without cash.

ellen fl

[peacebird]

2. the logial extension of this is

people who buy more alcohol than deemed "responsible" will be tracked and put into treatment. Same for those
who buy cigarettes, "dirty" movies or naughty magazines.

govt will describe these actions as needed to keep down health costs (for alcohol and cig's) and to retrain "perverts" back into
mainstream acceptable types for the risque stuff.

Churches will get the most $$$ for the second effort - which will likely include "training" gays to become heteros. (Or face being defined a pervert)

I see nothing good in this. I see much potential for govt abuse.

:grr: