identity issues: more thoughts

So my annoyance at the student ID issue is not unfounded, but still students are vulnerable...as well as anyone else in modern society.

Hackers getting hold of student's sensitive information

UT is now changing its policy

Identity theft and fraud will be a huge issue in the next couple of decades. Consumer advocates and legislators will have to take on the consumer credit reporting agencies and in turn the financial industries the serve, to balance civil 'credit rights' with that of the very necessary credit scoring. Peter Drucker wrote about the credit industry basically creating a new form of currency (Age of Discontinuity I think)...and I believe its true. By using cash you are putting your faith in the US Government directly to guarantee the value of the money. By using credit you are putting your faith in the huge international banking industry, who uses individual credit scores based on your SSN to value you. In one case money has value, in the other, it is the consumer who has value.