Mulling over Rene Laederach to Steve Asher 16 Aug 2003

SA> "One reason we are doing this is because the cards have not been 
SA> popular. The banks can help with promoting the citizen certificate 
SA> and they are capable of large volumes of production," she said. 
SA> "We still have to produce the official ID because it is law and 
SA> it is used as an ID with the police and also a mini passport for 
SA> travelling. We are hoping to include health information on the 
SA> card next summer."  

 RL> In other words, the banks will sooner or later make it mandatory to
 RL> identify yourself with this implement in order to withdraw any
 RL> money.... 

 RL> The idea of not having a bank account becomes more and more
 RL> interesting everyday.

It is one way to avoid the bank's increasingly rapacious "fees and
charges".

Increasingly, goods & services such as internet accounts are being
marketed here as "valid credit card only", with cash & cheques
being refused. I bought a prepaid starter kit for a mobile phone
yesterday from a major electronics chain, & was asked for my
drivers licence or other photo ID to satisfy Federal requirements;
as I don't drive or have any photo "ID", the sales person reluctantly
accepted my bank account card. As far as I am concerned, drivers
licences are simply credentials to show that people have the competence
to drive certain classes of vehicle, & have paid the fees, nothing more.

Cheers, Steve..

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