More creepy statism courtesy of your government schools.

Palm scanning causing concern among Moss Bluff Elementary parents

A local elementary school is trying to implement a new program in their cafeteria. But the palm vein scanner is being met with much opposition from Moss Bluff Elementary parents.

"I was very, very mad," said parent Mamie Sonnier. "Disappointed."

Many parents felt that way on Monday after reading a letter sent home with their children from Moss Bluff Elementary School. The letter introduced a new program, the palm vein scanner, to move students through the lunch line at a faster rate. With almost 1,000 students, Principal Charles Caldarera says the system will reduce errors.

He says the system isn't on campus yet, so students' palms won't be scanned any time soon … [but] they are trying to implement the program as soon as possible … if you are a parent and don't want your child to participate, you must contact the school by Wednesday.

They're already using palm vein scanners, beginning last year, on "middle and high school students" in Pinellas County, Florida.

Reminds me of the old Pierre-Joseph Proudhon quote: "To be governed is to be kept in sight, inspected, spied upon, directed, law-driven, numbered, enrolled, indoctrinated, preached at, controlled, estimated, valued, censured, commanded, by creatures who have neither the right, nor the wisdom, nor the virtue to do so … "

Something New Under the Sun

In short, the technology exists for a detailed, unblinking, unforgetting watchfulness of the entire population beyond anything imagined, or perhaps imaginable, a few decades ago … It is happening.

People speak of the onrush of the police state. I think that many do not understand how fast it comes, or how thorough it will be.

The political framework falls rapidly into place. Few or no safeguards exist, and probably few are possible. A growing authoritarianism rapidly erodes what protections we had. The courts allow random searches of passengers of trains and subways without probable cause. Warrantless tapping of personal communications is rampant, or done with secret warrants from a secret federal judge. TSA has Viper squads that stop cars at random for searches. In many places it is against the law to video the police, who everywhere become more militarized and less accountable. For practical purposes, citizens have no recourse.

Sometimes I wonder if Americans even wish to be free …

Neither Romney nor Obama are going to do anything about it. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall freedom even being mentioned as an "issue." Ron Paul talked freedom. But he was rejected. Of course. A fitting quote from Daniel McCarthy:

Democrats support civil liberties the same way Republicans support smaller government: only in opposition.

America is so screwed.