If the Republicans win control of the Senate in the up-coming mid-term elections in the States, then they will control everything, already enjoying a majority in the House of Representatives. Leaving Barak Obama, as a Democrat President, in a rather sorry position of not being able to pass any motions. Political constipation. He would become a ‘lame duck’ president. When he heard this expression he asked: ‘is that like a birdie?’ And went out to play more golf. It could always be worse. He could have Nick Clegg.

Over here we’re going to get ‘virtual id’. Having shied away from ID cards as a form of invasion of privacy for decades, we’re now going to use on-line government schemes to prove identity securely and safely. Until some Westminster mandarin leaves a print-out of everyone’s secrets and lies in a briefcase on a bench in St James’ Park, of course, but that won’t happen. This is safe. Secure. Right. And ya know what: we need it.

Every time I have dealings with any kind of financial institution they want the same stuff. A utility bill. Which I haven’t received since coal was delivered in sacks. All done on monthly direct debits. Then they want a ‘bank statement’. Do it all online. Haven’t received a bank statement in a decade. Could probably print one off for you? Oh, not good enough, hmmmm. And I’ve been moaning for years that none of these requirements are in any way applicable to now. To where we are and how we pay for stuff. Yet it has endured. Until today. When they’re gonna stop all that shit and do it properly with what will doubtless be the most unimaginable nightmare to set up; passwords, special phrases, secret numbers, retinal scans, bloodwork, rectal examinations… but then: wow! You’re Andy… (3 second pause)… yes, you are; that is now officially, governmentally confirmed. You do not even need to look in the mirror, you are definitely Andy.

And all it will ‘cost’ in real terms is a complete loss of privacy. Because they’ll know your bank details, your mortgage details, your lawyer’s details, they can link it up to your Oyster card and see where you go, they can find out how much you put on Amex in Waitrose shopping for groceries last week, they’ll know which books you downloaded onto your kindle, which movies you booked to see, what football team you support, for whom you voted on Celebrity Big Brother and how deep you ran the bath last Sunday.

So yet again, the question: do we lose too much, do we enter the realm of Big Brother, just for the sake of expedience? Big question late on a tuesday,

Enjoy the rain

A xxxx