Identification & Citizenship Believe it or Nots by Duncan Frissell
http://technoptimist.blogspot.com/?/2002_04_07_technoptimist_archive.html Last September's attack on the United States vastly increased debate on identification, citizenship, and immigration. For your education and amusement, here are some truly strange facts about these topics. ... 2) World War II was won by US Army Generals and Navy Admirals who commanded armies, air forces, and fleets and possessed and used all manner of weapons up to and including nuclear bombs -- all without ever having proved their identities to the US government. ... 8) One is not required to apply for a Social Security Number. ... 18) The machine-readable lines on your passport (at the bottom of the page that has your picture on it) include space for a National ID number. ... 21) It is not a crime to be an illegal alien in the US. It is a civil matter. It is a crime to use fraudulent documents to gain entry. It is a minor offense to evade inspection when crossing the border. But if you overstay your visa, it is not a crime. You can, of course, be arrested and deported but the mere status of being illegally present in the US does not constitute a crime. DCF ---- If you worry that Multinational Corporations or National Governments control your life, simply employ a random number generator to determine what actions you take. By this simple technological fix, you will guarantee that no one (including yourself) is Master of Your Fate and Captain of Your Soul.
