Venezuelans Don't Like The Idea Of Being Fingerprinted Just To Buy Groceries

BI - Reuters ^ | 8-30-2014 | Alexandra Ulmer

[blam]

Alexandra Ulmer, Reuters

August 29, 2014

CARACAS (Reuters) - A government plan to combat Venezuela's food shortages by fingerprinting shoppers in grocery stores has sparked a backlash ranging from violent street protests to social media campaigns ridiculing the idea.

Shoppers have for more than a year struggled to find basic goods including cooking oil, powdered milk and corn flour as well as detergent, shampoo and diapers.

Apart from a short supply of dollars for imports, the shortages have been blamed on heavy subsidies that allow shoppers to stock up on staples and resell them in neighboring Colombia or on the local black market.

President Nicolas Maduro says the biometric system, to be introduced this year, will allow authorities to weed out smugglers, often seen in lines buying conspicuous amounts of goods that are in short supply.

"It's absurd. How does a fingerprinting machine help you? It's only more regulation," said Jose Briceno, a pastry chef who was once a fervent supporter of late socialist President Hugo Chavez but says his handpicked successor, Maduro, should resign.

"I've reached my limit," said Briceno, 39, adding that he has to go shopping nearly every day to find what he needs for his kitchen.

(snip)

[DUMBGRUNT]

What is the cost of all of this, if it actually exists?

The fingerprint readers I have used were not quick and everything was in the building. And the DB was small.

Then how long to query the homemade database?...

The 0bamacare programmers are now available!

[Alas Babylon!]

Coconut oil only has a 1 year shelf life. Extra virgin olive oil is best at 2-3 years at pantry temperatures.

http://www.eatbydate.com/other/condiments/how-long-does-oil-last/

[Lizavetta]

so I would recommend coconut oil which has a longer shelf life and is healthier for you.

And if not for eating, use it for baby-soft skin. I love it.

[ridesthemiles]

Meanwhile, in the USA, the ACLU & Liberals & Democrats refuse to have voter ID.

[dfwgator]

Should have thought about that before voting for Chavez and Maduro.

[fr_freak]

When you signup for the store cards you can get individualized discounts for products you prefer. Good news.

However they are tracking the date, items purchased, cash back, and everything about your purchases.

I advise people to do what I do: invent a fake persona, fake name, age, address phone number, everything and use that for every dumb thing that requires this kind of info. Now, for a lot of things like these supermarket club cards, even that is unnecessary. Safeway gave me a card with a form to fill out for all my personal info. I took the card, chucked the form, and every time I scan the card it comes up "unidentified customer", but it still works. Heh. However, other things want personal info and you might have to remember what bs you told them later, hence the fake persona. Never give out your real info.

[PGR88]

Suck on your socialism, folks.

[EQAndyBuzz]

I’m Dr. Van Nostrum. Have the email account and everything. I thought about going as Tom DeLay’s cousing Van.

[SVTCobra03]

Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil has a shelf life of 2-3 years. Nice try though.