Slashdot Mirror
McNealy Calls for National ID Card Too
Syre writes: "Well McNealy's at it again calling for a national ID card (a smart card powered by Java, anyone?)." So let's get this straight: Oracle wants a national ID card powered by Oracle. Sun wants a national ID card powered by Java. (Even though the U.S. already has a national ID card, since the states are in the process of linking their driver's license databases together.) Is there any company that doesn't want to exploit a tragedy for financial gain? And didn't each and every one of the hijackers present valid ID?
I think a lot of Slashdot users would just as soon that their posts weren't connected to their real names in any way... "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" makes me think they should, anyway.
I'm so tired of the whining about "privacey" in a community that I find otherwise wise. There never has been, never will be privacey. Get over it. If you truly value libertarian vitues, why not take an imaginative leap...can't humanity
engineer a truly unhackable human identification system? And if so, if spoofing identity becomes impossible (based for example on DNA) or at least difficult in the extreme (i.e. very costly), then can't we also imagine a zero privacey/maximum freedom hegemony much cooler than current offerings?
StarTrek is actually within reach...and as luck would have it, it's this very community that could drive h. sapiens to realize such potential...if y'all would just get over a few (immature) hangups and stop whining.
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." -- Aurther C. Clarke
No matter who suggests this type of plan, it's everyone's duty to send off a quick e-mail to your congressman/woman and house rep to tell them that we will not stand for this type of scrutiny or restriction. http://www.senate.gov/senators/senator_by_state.cf m
http://www.houseofrepresentatives.com/
I will not be tracked like some type of animal and if it means I don't know who is flying on a plane with me I will take that risk. If I loose my freedom or loose my life I will always choose to die rather than have my freedom taken away. Capitalism/Socialism is such a bad mix even the average intelligence should be able to see the dollar signs of Mr. McNealy and the Mr. Ellison or Bill. Whoever has these ideas is firmly rooted in the marketing aspects of the identity-tracking plan. If they can track people they can find out what you buy and where you buy it and a thousand other things. If the insurance company could tell that you have made the purchase of a parachute and that you also own a four wheel drive pickup truck do you think that insurance company will charge you the same as the person to only buys movies and stays home all the time? The former would be charge a hell of a lot more and the later would get off paying less. That would save the companies tons of money.
Drugs are given away, in the beginning, on the streets and what do that lead to? Addiction is the answer and we all know addiction is bad unless you harness it and make a ton of money. Always there is a price to be paid, yet I could only hope that I'm not the only one willing not to give up what has made this nation great, freedom. Free ID cards from Microsoft, Oracle, Sun or the guy next door is wrong. It might be a good idea to organize folks around you who feel the same way and speak out. God knows I have. Peace.