Posted on 01/13/2011 4:29:11 PM PST by jazusamo
Federalized security screening at airports has been such a success that President Obama wants to apply the same government "expertise" to the realm of online commerce and commentary. The White House cybersecurity adviser joined Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on Jan. 7 to announce what amounts to a national ID card for the Internet.
Their plan is straightforward. Instead of logging onto Facebook or one's bank using separate passwords established with each individual company or website, the White House will take the lead in developing what it calls an "identity ecosystem" that will centralize personal information and credentials. This government-approved system would issue a smart card or similar device that would confirm an individual's identity when making online credit-card purchases, accessing electronic health care records, posting "anonymous" blog entries or even logging onto one's own home computer, according to administration documents.
Officials insist this would be a voluntary program and deliver significant benefits to the public. Mr. Locke explained last week that "robust identity solutions can substantially enhance the trustworthiness of online transactions. They can not only improve security, but, if done properly, can enhance privacy as well."
Put another way, Mr. Locke is saying, "Trust us, we're from the government, and we're here to help." Congress, the technology industry and the public need to run as far away as they can from this purported assistance. The government is no more capable of securing information than it is of protecting airports...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
If it’s something like MSN wallet, which I’m free to ignore... fine. But I suspect it wouldn’t end up that way if Uncle Sam was involved.
They’re happy to log my Internet usage, but they’re not interested in defending my borders.
Time to start calling the GOP House 24/7 again. This Regime never stops; their attempt to stifle We The People is hourly.
Their desire to stop freedom of speech has reached epoch proportions.
Yeah, yeah. If they don't sell our info to telemarketers first.
What could possibly go wrong!?!?!? /s
If Bush had proposed this the screaming would have carried forth in a crescendo that would have blanketed the planet.
Worst President Ever.
Make the same userID/Password be required to vote, and I’ll think about supporting it.
The ID thing is really a permit to belong.
What always comes after a permit?
A fee for the permit.
If they do this ID thing, with less than a year there will be something like a $50 or $100 fee for the permit.
Well, I guess that's one way to get rid of FreeRepublic. When the government controls your access to your computer, it's all over.
I’ll show Obama my internet driver’s license as soon as Obama shows me his real world birth certificate.
I remember wondering how the Germans could tolerate the Gestapo demand “Papiere bitte”. Now our Dear Leader may try it here at home. Disgusting, or in other words, business as usual for the evil communist in our White House.
America — a great idea, didn’t last.
No doubt there would have been many calling for his impeachment.
The voluntary part is a joke, if this went into effect those not volunteering would no longer have access in a short period of time.
Jimmy Carter may retain that title forever. The usurper falls short of even that distinction unless he proves that he was eligible to take power over our country under the Constitution as written.
Oh the irony. In Zero’s America we don’t need ID to vote, but we would need ID to post a comment on FreeRepublic.
Exactly! And that's exactly what the leftists are out to do.
per the article:
“Officials insist this would be a voluntary program and deliver significant benefits to the public. “
I will start the “voluntary which became mandatory” list.
1. seat belts.
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