"It is impossible for ideas to compete in the marketplace if no forum for
  their presentation is provided or available."           Thomas Mann, 1896

Letter from the President

July 1st, 2003

John Hathaway-Bates
President & Executive Director

Those of you who read my letter regularly know that I often put out an opinion, (this month it will be about National Identity Cards), it is of course pure whimsy, but it is always based upon my many conversations each month with business decision makers the length of the west coast (The Pacific States of America), on something that I think my friends and acquaintances might just just benefit from.  My occupation allows me to spend a lot more time questioning and listening than most people, who have real jobs like flying airplanes, teaching or manufacturing things ever have – and I have spent the last two decades playing on the frontiers of technology and socio-economic change.  Every month I have lunch with dozens of people, and chat before and afterwards, with the most varied of occupations; from CIO’s to CFO’s, Police Captains to FBI agents, small business Presidents to local government officers, actors to doctors, and a lot more.  So, quite often, after all that input has sifted through my brain to the point where it starts to make sense, I have often been able to come up with what turns out to be a prediction that everyone questions, (or laughs at) that more often than not becomes reality not too long afterwards.  But I always try to share my paradoxical view of the Future or the Present, and sometimes the Past even, with just a little whimsy and bantering when so ever I able to do so.

A Little Bantering

Give Me a National Identity Card

This month, based on many conversations, I am able to predict that sooner rather than later we shall all carry a “true” National Identity Card, that will make our lives easier, safer, and more enjoyable in many ways and, for there is always a downside, a lot more disciplined, if not controlled, by those who claim to have our best interest at heart, and are determined to protect us from ourselves.

When I joined Her Majesties Forces back in the mid-50’s I was issued with an Identity Card – a few words and numbers printed on a piece of heavy paper.  Since then I have had passports, drivers’ licenses, company ID cards, credit cards, Social Security cards, Library Cards, ATM Cards, Bank Cards, Medical Insurance Cards, Hospital Cards, Airline Cards, and Museum Cards, until often my wallet weighs more than the keys carried by a security guard.  I have had an INS Green Card (which was not green) and a Press Pass Card; I have also had University ID Cards and Preferred Customer Cards.  So, in other words there is probably not one of the forty-one (41) countries I have visited and worked in, where someone in their Government or Police Force does not know everything about me – or can find out in no time flat.  There are databases all over the world that if combined, (and they probably are), can tell you my blood type, service record and how many hotels I have stayed at over the last half century, and which seat I prefer to sit in when flying.  They know my credit worthiness, or lack of credit; they know that I smoke cigarettes, and what brand I smoke; they know how many children I have (names, sex, age, hair color, eye color and present location); they know my Race and my Religion and probably how many times I attend Church; they know my mother's maiden name and the color of her eyes; and I am sure that somewhere all of my preferences for particular brands of cognac, wine and what my favorite foods are, will be conveniently listed for them to read.  They can also find out what I most often buy in the supermarket or the department store, and where I have my suits made; and if I knew less they would probably be able to list all the web sites I have visited since the Internet was created.  Let’s be honest, they probably know that too.  I am also now on the list that says I do not want to receive telemarketing pitches, but then they have my address so they will just mail me their offers to buy things I do not need or would ever want, or enlarge or reduce several body parts that I do not have.

In other words, there is probably nothing about me that someone with a computer and the right knowledge, could not find out in an hour.  So the idea of my trying to protect my privacy is already a mute point, and has been for decades.  Therefore, if they already have all this information, I would like to be able to use it as efficiently for my own good and comfort!  I want a combined Personal Identity Card that helps me – rather than just those people who want a share of my income, or to be able to control my freedom of movement!

I want every “card” I have to carry today to be combined onto one piece of fireproof, tamper-proof plastic!  I want it to have my photograph, (front and side view); I want it to have my thumb print, and be covered in holograms that no crook could duplicate, (they can also photograph my iris and show a print out of my DNA if it helps make my life more secure and will better prevent identity theft).  The holograms on every card should be configured into easily recognized symbols, so that if I start talking to a woman in a bar or at the grocery store, I can ask to see her card, and immediately be made aware of the fact if she has ever been convicted of rape or spousal abuse.  My own religion, and everyone else's would be clearly shown upon our cards, which would allow me to check that the chap sitting next to me on the plane is not an Islamic Fundamentalist.  I also think that Lawmakers, Judges and Lawyers should have special holograms on their cards for the benefit of the public, and so that cash register clerks and parking valets could express their appreciation when they meet them, for they have such an impact on all of our lives, and I could also know when I should keep my real opinions to myself, rather than land up in jail or out of funds.  Doctors, Dentists and definitely Proctologists should also have holograms on their cards, so I can be sure they are what they say they are, before they begin examining me.

I want my card to take the place of every other card I am presently forced to carry – and a programmable magnetic strip that allows me to change Banks without having to spend hours waiting for an “Officer” and then filling out reams of forms, or up-date my credit rating.  I want everything about me on that card, so that the next time my car is stopped for a damaged rear light I do not have to sit in traffic for an hour in front of a Police car, with everyone I ever met driving by and waving at me.  My card will tell the Officer that I do not have a criminal record, and that the DMV, an Insurance company of my choice (with even simpler ability to change carriers than changing banks) and the IRS have all been paid and my license is up to date.

In other words I am suggesting that the individual that owns them carries his (or her) own Personal Identity References; and not have it spread around a world of databases for anyone to access, or lose, or mess up.  (I actually met a man once who had spent weeks trying to prove that he was not dead, and so many people have told me that they have suffered from identity theft I often wonder if they ever were who they today say they are.  Also, for twenty years after someone changes their name legally, or adopts a stage name, all of their a.k.a.'s should be printed on the card.  If they did that I think my favorite hobby would become finding out the real name of every Rap artist and Soap Opera "star".  

A Personal All-in-One Identity Card is basically doing for the Security Industry what Networking and Personal Computers did for Information Services when we emigrated the majority of computing tasks away from Main Frames.

Also, as a real service to its citizens (which could be paid for in what we will save in Policing costs), the Government will issue everyone with a palm sized device that is a combination Personal Identity Card Reader, Internet Access Process Facilitator, Wireless Phone, Clock, Garage Opener and electronic personal security key ring.  This Government Issue communicator will be given free to every citizen, legal alien and foreign tourist (for the length of their stay), in much the same way as our tax dollars today make it possible to issue every member of our Armed Forces with a Government Issue weapon.

Now obviously this change will free up the time of legions (probably millions) of security industry, government and corporate employees who presently sit at a desk five days a week and tend to the lists and checking procedures, (much like Networks meant that quite suddenly we needed almost no typists or executive secretaries).  This is a good thing!  Four out of five Government administrative staff would no longer be needed, (with one stroke I have solved Gray Davis’ Budget problems)!  It would also be healthy for the Nation, as these redundant workers could have their activities redirected to rebuilding America’s highways, waterways and railroad infrastructure, or sweeping, dredging or polishing them – which would solve the obesity problem America suffers from today.  It would also keep the cost of food down for Americans, for if everyone who presently works in a sitting position lost weight performing manual labor, the fast food restaurant chains would not be handing over huge sums to the plaintiff lawyers, which everyone knows would just put up the cost of food for foreign tourists and poorer Americans.

It would also control prostitution, and could end the drug problem, a lot of tax evasion and the less organized functions of organized crime, for in future the all-in-one Personal Identity card would also be a Direct Debit Card and all monies any of us ever receive would have to be transferred to us electronically.  When we needed to pay for something our JHHBPIC would become a credit or cash card, with all the necessary records to allow Law Enforcement to catch the "bad guys", or at least make sure that they pay taxes on their ill-gotten gains.  

That gets rid of check books, travelers checks and money as we know it, and will take away the frustration of trying to feed a filthy and tattered piece of paper into a vending machine, because all vending machines will be using card-swipe technology, as will all public services.  Run the card and press your thumb against the pad and that coke is yours little brother!  It will also mean of course that the would be terrorist who was issued his (or her) card at his (or her) port of entry could be located every time he (or she) used a vending machine, bus or a public toilet.  Illegal entry, would obviously mean that you would not be issued a card, and that would mean that you would starve to death, or at least be so inconvenienced when you discovered you could not use public transport, a vending machine or public toilet you would probably just go home.

But all joking apart, we have the technology right now to create it, and we need to reduce the staffing costs of government, and we have to solve the drug problem and we need to solve the terrorist infiltration and organized crime problems of this country.  Therefore, I ask you to seriously consider the following: if government can profit from something and improve at least its perceived performance, how long do you truly think it will be before it becomes Law?

Hope to see you at lunch soon,

John Hathaway-Bates
President & Executive Director

You can email me at  john@bizforum.org
You can telephone me at    310-694-8640

     

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