Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!alberta!myrias!dbf
From: dbf@myrias.UUCP (David Ferrier)
Newsgroups: can.general
Subject: Re: SIN Number
Summary: logic and civil liberties
Keywords: SIN
Message-ID: <734@myrias.UUCP>
Date: 28 Dec 88 22:29:23 GMT
References: <1988Dec23.024016.22054@ziebmef.uucp> <1988Dec24.222620.22203@lsuc.uucp>
Distribution: can
Organization: Myrias Research Corporation
Lines: 22

>>But the only reason the government keeps records on me is to catch me if
>>I try to cheat on taxes.  So helping them keep these records verges on
>>self-incrimination.  (To be precise, if I *am* up to something, helping
>>them catch me is self-incrimination.)  So I try, pretty hard, to make
>>their lives difficult.  Not (necessarily :-}) becasue I have something
>>to hide, but becasue I'm not required to prove I don't.

So we have developed another modern day fear, that of the
power of Administrative Voodoo:
if someone obtains our number (instead of fingernail
parings and hair), puts it into a computer (instead of a doll) 
they can then cause us all manner of unspeakable financial torment 
(instead of physical torment). 

If we can only keep them from getting our secret number, we will
be protected from the power of Administrative Voodoo.  So we hide our number, 
as tribemen hide their faces from the photographer 
who might capture their souls, and think therefore that
we are safe.
-- 
David Ferrier                            Edmonton, Alberta
alberta!myrias!dbf                       (403) 428 1616