Give me liberty or give me death

[jenstar]

With the government moving toward a generalised DNA database and ID cards, is anyone else seriously considering suicide rather than living under such a regime?

[Squirrel]

Although I don't know much about this proposed ID thing, other than you might have to pay �25 or something, I can't see what harm could come of it? What do you mean by "Anyone else"?

[WendyW]

Gosh Jenstar ... just what are you scared of?. I can't see any harm in a DNA database ... just think of all the criminals who would be caught by it!!! Identity cards ... well we carry all sorts of identity cards anyway ... so whats the problem. Come to think of it I still have the one they issued me with when I was a baby ... will I be able to get it renewed :)

[xyzzy@bok]

It's all inevitable Jenstar, you may as well accept your fate with a smile; .. you're already a volunteer snoopee; by being online you've uploaded your mind for inspection - you're too late. the new Tech Akashic Records. So, long as you're not serious about the suicide, chill :-)

[paulz]

Jenstar - nothing is really that bad. Hang on in there and don't let them get you down. You take your own life and they've won; you don't want that do you?

[froggequene]

When you apply for a loyalty card or credit card, you're giving an independent company your full name, address, your date of birth, your mother's maiden name, you give them the right to pry into your financial background, when you use your loyalty card you tell them what you like to buy, what you like to eat, what you like to read which is used by their marketing department and the company also has the option of passing on the information. Everyday people give out incredibly personal information which is bought and sold like another commodity and you're complaining about ID cards and databases, doesn't it worry you more what Sainsbury's does with your personal information? Government's and their institutions can be held accountable for what they do and penalised by the voters, can Sainsbury's?

[jenstar]

Well, it's true I shouldn't be online. That's the one area I do compromise on, and don't think it doesn't bother me. As for loyalty cards, I've never had one and don't shop in supermarkets anyway (another of my great concerns is the way supermarkets are taking over from small shops), and while I do have a credit card, I haven't used it in years. I'm still a cash-for-everything person. Frogqueene, your belief that governments are accountable and can be "penalised by the voters" is very naive. Wendy, you might carry all sorts of ID with you but I don't, and I refuse to start. All I carry that could identify me is an emergency contact number of someone who would know who I am, just in case I get run over. And one last general point: yes, people give away personal information in all sorts of circumstances, but they are still entitled to walk away and not have loyalty cards and suchlike. We're not going to have that option with what Blunkett and Falconer are proposing. Does the state serve us, or do we serve the state? If you accept ID cards and a general DNA database then you are accepting the latter. I will not.

[Gef]

I am filmed in the school where I work (remember Dunblane), on the streets of Glasgow (where I feel safe) and whilst driving my car. I don't have a problem with any of this as it adds to my security and that of others. I would not object to carrying an ID card as this does not seem to be a problem to the populations of many other European countries. I can only assume that the people who object are potential murderers, muggers and road-ragers.

[xyzzy@bok]

Gef, How would you feel if someone entered your house while you were away, not to steal property, but to go through your diaries, bills, personal letters, to glean information for your 'profile' also check your belongings anyway and record what your sexual, medical, political, religious and fashion leanings are etc and then sell that information on after they've done with it to anyone else interested? It's the Same thing that's already happening with Loyalty cards and Gator cookies, and doubleclick, bluestreak, hitbox etc you are being mindraped and you think only ne'erdowells object? You are So wrong, and obviously an adman or you work in corporate marketing Just presenting the side of the coin you obviously don't see :-)

[froggequene]

Jenstar, do you vote? Are you familiar with the freedom of information act, how about the Data Protection Act? I think a DNA database would be useful, when you consider how many children are being conceived by 'donations', by reckless parents, one night stands etc, after all considering how small the world has become for some people you wouldn't want them accidentally discovering the love of their life is a half sibling. We have the power, that is what the vote is for, if you don't like what your government is doing and if the papers truly believe themselves to be our mouthpieces then we have another avenue of protest, how about all these campaigns against exporting live animals, building runways, ring roads etc, are those people powerless? I was raised in a country where the voters could and do penalise their government by voting exactly as they please if the government doesn't deliver satisfaction maybe more people in the UK need to wake up to the fact that a vote is a very powerful thing.

[treaclefight]

yes jen i am, but i'm concerned that my suicide note will give away too much about me

[Gef]

xyzzy, I am just a humble school teacher with nothing to hide. I know that eveything I sign up for enables people to record data about me but I am not worried about it. I don't see the problem.

[treaclefight]

what did answerbank edit? i cant remember writing anything else?

[xyzzy@bok]

'how' treaclefight.; 'too much about (how) me'.

[Thanks xyzzy - yes, treaclefight, the 'edit' was to remove a misplaced word in your answer. You had then posted another answer explaining the above, which was deleted. I just tidied up for you. - AB Editor]

[TEAK36]

Im probably being a bit thick here,but is it possible for someones DNA to be very similar to someone elses,and if it is,what are the supposed odds of this? I seem to recall reading somewhere that when DNA is tested,they only look at a certain number of 'markers' to make a match.Im just concerned that if the odds on this being possible were a million to one,it could mean that there are around 60 other people in the UK with similar DNA to mine.Am I being ridiculous?

[gilf]

If you havent done anything wrong you have nothing to fear. Your free to leave the country at any time.