Visitors To US Now Required To Register Online

mytrip sends a reminder that starting today, visitors to the US from 35 visa-waiver countries will be required to register online with the Department of Homeland Security in advance. The DHS is asking people to go online for the ESTA program 72 hours before traveling, but they can register any amount of time ahead. Approval, once granted, is good for 2 years. DHS says that most applications are approved in 4 seconds. If an application is rejected, the traveler will have to go to a US embassy and get a visa. CNet reports that information from applications will be retained for 12 years, and eventually up to 75 years.

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Re:Herd instict

[MindKata]

"Step 1: Gather Information."

Step 2: Once any one government has our finger prints, then that government contacts many other governments, to ask them if they want to buy the finger print details. (Or exchange their sets of data, with the other governments data for free).

The point being, information is getting spread around ever more these days and we can't change our finger prints, once that info leaks. Plus businesses are being used to out source a lot of government work. So what if they also leak (or more likely sell) their records.

Same worry in a few years time, with the potential to misuse DNA records. (Try getting insurance once that happens, if you have any chance of developing long term illnesses).

I didn't know finger prints were even needed to get into the US. That just feels wrong.

We seem to be suffering ever more information leaks. For example, I didn't know until recently, that all our credit card purchases were also being sold onto governments and other businesses. Thats just great, because it means governments can then workout exactly who are political opponents, based on which books they buy, which films they buy, etc..

The more information the people in power have on everyone else, then the more power they have over everyone, to hold back or punish anyone who disagrees with their point of view. So therefore the more info and power they get, the more they undermine democracy and move everyone ever closer to a totalitarian level of control and monitoring over everyone.

So much for democracy. I thought all politicians were voted in to just do a job and help us improve our countries. Looks like each group that gets into power, are slowly moving the world towards ever more power for them, for their own gain.

Looks like George Orwell's 1984 book was an instruction manual after all.