From: spike66 (spike66@attbi.com)
Date: Mon Oct 28 2002 - 23:07:58 MST
Eugen Leitl wrote:
> On Sun, 27 Oct 2002, spike66 wrote:
>>
>>Gene, the villain isn't the technology...
>
> Reliable and blanket biometrics takes large resources to develop and
> deply. It's being paid from your taxes. Feds are creating the demand,
> being the singlest large customer by far. Do you think that's a good use
> of your taxes? Do you think we need that particular market?
No I suppose not, but I haven't assumed the government
to be a huge customer for this tech. I could see
ordinary citizens using it to keep track of who
is coming to the front door while they are away,
for instance. If it is a friend or a neighbor,
you would know to call on them when you return.
>>...Dont use your energy to delay the tech,
>>use your energy to elect officials that understand
>>the concept of limited government power. spike
>
> I don't trust government to be reformable...
> Even if we and the feds were given the same information, they would do oh
> so much more with it, and most of it not to your liking. I honestly do not
> see how you can't see something so obvious.
Gene I see the direction of your argument and
partially agree, regarding the notion that
power corrupts. My thought is that the awareness
of the existence of such power would shift the
equilibrium of power out of government. People
would vote for fewer laws to compensate for
greater government ability to detect infractions.
I grant that there are unintended consequences,
such as a territorial spouse being able to track
his wandering mate. I've no answer to that one.
Dont get married? {8^D Perhaps the human
population would collapse.
I have a vision of a society where everyone
is accountable for everything they do in
public. I want the home number of every
wretched phone spammer, so that right before
I go to bed at about 2300 Pacific Standard
Time, I can call them (since it is 0200 where
they live) and tell them I have decided
not to buy their product. I want to see
a society free of the kinds of problems
caused by the anonymity available to the
big city dweller.
With full personal accountability and
accountability by all government officials,
we would be more careful about electing
or allowing the appointment of puritanical
yahoos, such as the US attorney general
Ashcroft.
Libertarians would actually win an occasional
election for a change. The proletariat would
be alerted to the rise of a dictator, and would
vote to oppose.
Gene, demand freedom, not anonymity. spike
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