[wordup] Re: Anti-Terrorist Brain/Iris Fingerprinting

[Adam Shand]

From: Gene Merrill <gene at spack.org>

<rant>

> The system does not violate anyone's civil liberties.

Can anyone seriously say this with a straight face? I tried and couldn't.
I almost decided to leave my job because they wanted my urine... I damn
well won't be flying if I need to give a "brainprint" to get on board.

> In order to account for possible negative public perception caused by
> a lack of understanding of how the system works

Translation: This is a full-on rape of freedom and privacy, and it will
take a while to brainwash the public.

> Brain fingerprinting may sound silly. But consider the alternative.

Okay I will. Stepped up security combined with a mandate from our
government to intellegence agencies to collaborate on monitoring terrorism
activity seems pretty un-silly compared to this. Isreal has been flying
commercial jets in and out of a hotspot for decades using traditional
security meaures...

I have a silly idea! Let's pay airport security employees *more* than
minimum wage and screen them properly with background checks. I know this
is a crazy idea, and it will take some getting used to, but maybe the
special education alumnis that check my backpack weren't doing a very good
job.

I wish more people would think like you... about addressing the cause of
the problems instead of the symptoms.

* Why did we spend billions on war in Afghanistan and next to nothing on
  peace? Why did we create and arm the same factions that are now, like
  Frankenstein, turning on their creator?

* Why do we have a dozen intellegence gathering agencies that put
  protecting their "turf" above sharing and collaboration?

* Why do we consider proxy wars valid foreign policy? Why are we deciding
  to fight one now (via the Northern Alliance)? Didn't we learn anything
  the first time?

* Why did we unilaterally support Israel, and condemn the Palestinians,
  even when Israel uses Apache helicopters in mass assassinations in
  populated areas to retaliate for terrorist attacks by the extremists?

* Why is the government making noise about more attacks, including
  chemical and biological attacks, when experts say it's unlikely? Could
  it be fodder for Ashcroft's request to change law to allow roving
  wiretaps and indefinite detentions?

* Why mess around with scanning our eyes when we can just put a barcode on
  everyone's fucking forehead and be done with it?

</rant>

--
gene