Comments on: Scary Halowe’en ID management vibe http://idealgovernment.com/2006/11/scary_haloween_id_management_vibe/ What do we want from Internet-age government? Wouldn't it be better if... Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:03:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Paul http://idealgovernment.com/2006/11/scary_haloween_id_management_vibe/comment-page-1/#comment-1159 Paul Wed, 01 Nov 2006 20:05:52 +0000 http://scary_haloween_id_management_vibe#comment-1159 Whose pumpkin was Blunkett and whose Clarke? Whose pumpkin was Blunkett and whose Clarke?

]]> By: Richard S http://idealgovernment.com/2006/11/scary_haloween_id_management_vibe/comment-page-1/#comment-1158 Richard S Wed, 01 Nov 2006 16:45:36 +0000 http://scary_haloween_id_management_vibe#comment-1158 A different scenario: We're in Germany, it's the early 1930s; the country is in a mess; hyper-inflation means that barrow loads of cash are needed to pay for even basic foods. A strong, charismatic leader has been elected promising new solutions to the country's many problems and humiliations. The new government introduces the latest IT technology (IBM punched card databases) to record and track its citizens. We're told that certain groups of people are a threat, responsible for many of our problems; we're told that special emergency measures are essential; foreign “adventures” are offered as “solutions.” Optimism returns; the economy thrives; scientific developments; full employment! Then it all goes wrong: The government seizes extra powers; ignores 'parliament'; it's no longer subject to traditional checks and balances; its isolated leadership becomes increasingly unhinged and desperate. It's too late! The rest is history... Now forward to 2006: Our grandchildren are still blamed for allowing this to happen: How could we have been so blind? A different scenario:

We’re in Germany, it’s the early 1930s; the country is in a mess; hyper-inflation means that barrow loads of cash are needed to pay for even basic foods.

A strong, charismatic leader has been elected promising new solutions to the country’s many problems and humiliations.

The new government introduces the latest IT technology (IBM punched card databases) to record and track its citizens.

We’re told that certain groups of people are a threat, responsible for many of our problems; we’re told that special emergency measures are essential; foreign “adventures” are offered as “solutions.”

Optimism returns; the economy thrives; scientific developments; full employment!

Then it all goes wrong:

The government seizes extra powers; ignores ‘parliament’; it’s no longer subject to traditional checks and balances; its isolated leadership becomes increasingly unhinged and desperate.

It’s too late!

The rest is history…

Now forward to 2006: Our grandchildren are still blamed for allowing this to happen: How could we have been so blind?

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