• US Congress / Biblical Pr

    From LEE LOFASO@1:123/140 to STEVE ASHER on Monday, March 12, 2007 15:05:00
    Hello Steve,

    US Congress Erupts In Debate Over Biblical Prophecy, The Mark Of The Beast, SA>Echo New Book By Patrick Heron

    Added: Mar 11th, 2007 12:11 PM

    Biblical prophecy finds way to legislators in battle over ID plan

    By Jon Gambrell, Associated Press Writer | March 11, 2007

    LITTLE ROCK --As state legislators line up against the U.S.
    government's attempt to standardize driver's licenses nationwide,
    some believe it is a beastly plot that will draw the world closer
    to the apocalypse.

    Their inspiration: a magazine dedicated to biblical prophecy. Their
    fear: national ID numbers given to residents are the mark of the
    beast, the 666 from the Book of Revelation.

    "The ramifications are horrendous," said Sen. Ruth Whitaker, whose SA>resolution opposing the Real ID Act of 2005 has passed the Arkansas SA>Senate. "If there is anything akin to Nazi Germany, it is this act."

    Several states have balked at putting Real ID into effect. And now
    the Congress is taking another look at it. There are very real concerns
    that Real ID could make identity theft easier for criminals. It could
    also make it easier for terrorists to get into this country.

    Congress hopes to reduce identity theft and boost national security
    by requiring people to use Real IDs to board airplanes, enter federal SA>buildings and open some bank accounts. Those who dabble in biblical SA>prophecy say the new government-issued numbers mark the beginning of
    the end.

    It seemed like a good idea at the time, but upon closer scrutiny many
    holes have been uncovered. All a criminal or terrorist would have to do
    is steal somebody's drivers license (Real ID), replacing it with a fake
    one. By the time somebody learns his/her drivers license has been
    lifted it will have been too late. Or folks might sell their Real ID
    to those who would do us harm.

    "People are very concerned if the federal government gives you a
    number, it will be the mark of the beast," said Missouri Rep. Jim
    Guest, the sponsor of a resolution similar to Whitaker's. "There
    are everyday people who get the connection to 666."

    Everybody has a social security number. But few people think of
    having a social security number as having or being connected to the
    number of the beast.

    Legislators in Georgia, Maine, Montana, New Mexico, Vermont,
    Washington state and Wyoming have also balked at Real ID and a bill
    filed in Congress by Rep. Thomas Allen, D-Maine, would repeal it.
    Many complain that states will have to pay billions of dollars to
    put the system in place by the end of 2009, as mandated by Congress.

    Resolutions in Arkansas, Georgia, Maine and Missouri were offered
    after legislators read materials, spoke to or had indirect contact
    with Endtime Ministries of Dallas, whose magazine, radio show and SA>outreach examines current events through the prism of Christian SA>apocalypse.

    It is not just an article printed in a fringe magazine that has
    people and legislators concerned.

    --Lee


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  • From Steve Asher@3:800/432 to LEE LOFASO on Thursday, March 15, 2007 22:06:24
    Mulling over LEE LOFASO to STEVE ASHER 12 Mar 2007

    G'day Lee,

    US Congress Erupts In Debate Over Biblical Prophecy, The Mark Of
    The Beast, Echo New Book By Patrick Heron

    Added: Mar 11th, 2007 12:11 PM

    Biblical prophecy finds way to legislators in battle over ID plan

    By Jon Gambrell, Associated Press Writer | March 11, 2007

    "The ramifications are horrendous," said Sen. Ruth Whitaker, whose SA>resolution opposing the Real ID Act of 2005 has passed the Arkansas SA>Senate. "If there is anything akin to Nazi Germany, it is this act."

    Several states have balked at putting Real ID into effect. And
    now the Congress is taking another look at it. There are very
    real concerns that Real ID could make identity theft easier for
    criminals. It could also make it easier for terrorists to get
    into this country.

    The "mandatory" use of ID may make identity theft easier, and make
    it easier for terrorists to enter. It may also lead to the emergence
    of an "elite" who would either use "suppressed" IDs, or fake ones.
    If you were a Supreme Court judge, you might not want it known that
    you were boarding a flight, or that your daughter had entered a bar
    using her "ID" card, & could make a handy kidnap target (etc). It is
    not unknown for popular nightspots to be owned or operated by crims.
    There may well be so many exemptions as to make the whole thing
    unworkable. A lot of people who don't might imposing it on others
    might be reluctant to have it themselves, once they realise the
    potential for monitoring, tracking, fraud and worse.

    I wouldn't be too comfortable with a "global" credential that indicates
    where I am - at the airport, in a Government building (or shopping mall
    or bar) etc, as it also gives a clue to "evil-doers" that I am not home,
    in my office, etc. Like the muslim arrested in the US recently, who
    wanted to "smoke a judge", he wouldn't need to try to enter the court
    building - just wait for a judge to show up at a massage parlour. :)

    Congress hopes to reduce identity theft and boost national security
    by requiring people to use Real IDs to board airplanes, enter federal SA>buildings and open some bank accounts. Those who dabble in biblical SA>prophecy say the new government-issued numbers mark the beginning of
    the end.

    It seemed like a good idea at the time, but upon closer scrutiny
    many holes have been uncovered. All a criminal or terrorist would
    have to do is steal somebody's drivers license (Real ID), replacing
    it with a fake one. By the time somebody learns his/her drivers
    license has been lifted it will have been too late. Or folks might
    sell their Real ID to those who would do us harm.

    The idea of a drivers licence is to show that a person is licenced to
    operate a motor vehicle - nothing more, and crims here don't bother
    with that when they steal cars / do ramraids / highspeed chases / deaths
    and all the other mayhem, & the piss-weak "justice" system says "that
    was naughty, don't do that again", even though they have form as long
    as their arm, & are out on remand when they get caught. :)

    "People are very concerned if the federal government gives you a
    number, it will be the mark of the beast," said Missouri Rep. Jim
    Guest, the sponsor of a resolution similar to Whitaker's. "There
    are everyday people who get the connection to 666."

    Everybody has a social security number. But few people think of
    having a social security number as having or being connected to the
    number of the beast.

    Mainly because there hasn't been a "beast" to connect it to, for now.
    People are being conditioned to have an ID credential of some sort to
    interact with Government & its agencies - without it, no pension, dole, concessions, medicare etc. The number means very little - it is the use
    in transactions that is significant. At the moment, we can use cash, but
    it is a "suspicious transaction" to use more than a certain amount of
    cash, & the transaction must be reported.

    Legislators in Georgia, Maine, Montana, New Mexico, Vermont,
    Washington state and Wyoming have also balked at Real ID and a bill
    filed in Congress by Rep. Thomas Allen, D-Maine, would repeal it.
    Many complain that states will have to pay billions of dollars to
    put the system in place by the end of 2009, as mandated by Congress.

    Resolutions in Arkansas, Georgia, Maine and Missouri were offered
    after legislators read materials, spoke to or had indirect contact
    with Endtime Ministries of Dallas, whose magazine, radio show and SA>outreach examines current events through the prism of Christian SA>apocalypse.

    It is not just an article printed in a fringe magazine that has
    people and legislators concerned.

    The big concern will come when people find that without the credential
    they cannot fly, open a bank account, buy a house, have a phone or utility connected etc.

    Cheers, Steve..

    ---
    * Origin: Xaragmata / Adelaide SA telnet://xaragmata.thebbs.org (3:800/432)