Voice

When I was going through the TSA (Thieves and Sexual Assailants) checkpoint in Buffalo to fly to Chicago and then to Missoula, I had to surrender my driver’s license at the first guard shack to verify that I was who I say I am. There was a sign posted which said that facial scans were being taken, but were optional. A notice said that ALL photos would be deleted as soon as ID was confirmed.

Yeah, right! I’m sure they are not saving those biometrics in a databank somewhere.

After I handed the agent of the State my license, he inserted it into his machine and motioned me to stand in front of the camera. I told him that I was not going to opt out of the scan. At that point, he scowled and grumbled something about already having entered my ID and now he would have to cancel and reset the procedure, which he did. I patiently waited and when he handed my license back, simply moved on to the next position and eventually made it through the gauntlet in relatively good shape.

Everyone else simply did as they were instructed, dutifully and slavishly surrendering their personally private information to the whims of the Dictator who seeks to control everything about our lives. Do you want to fly? Look at the camera so we can collect information about you.

Interstate 90 east of Buffalo is a toll road, but there are no manned (womanned?) stations. Instead, everything is done by license plate readers and computers. Since I paid for the rental car with a credit card, I expect to receive a charge for the tolls and there won’t be a doggone thing I can do about it.

This is the wave of the near future. It will be pervasive. It will be everywhere and there won’t be a doggone thing we can do about it–except refuse to comply and subject ourselves whenever possible. Refusal to participate will be costly, but self-ownership is worth the price. In the end, if enough people resist and stand strong for themselves and those around them, the Machine will fail.

I have faith.