Alas Vine & Hitchens Digital IDs, Dinosaurs and Class A Drugs
20 snips
Oct 1, 2025 Digital ID cards spark a heated debate on privacy and potential government control. Peter and Sarah dive into the absurdities of national obsessions, from tea rituals to infrastructure quirks. Michael Gove's drug confessions raise questions about accountability and sincerity. The duo also explores time travel fantasies, with destinations ranging from historical events to the age of dinosaurs, paired with dream artifacts to bring back. Nostalgia for train journeys and reflections on collective cultural fixations round out their engaging discussion.
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Centralized IDs Risk Mass Exclusion
- Peter Hitchens argues digital ID systems centralize control and risk turning civil services into a single point of failure.
- He warns such systems can enable China-style social control and cut people off from essentials if they fail.
Refusing A Hotel's ID Demand
- Peter recounts refusing to show ID at a Manchester hotel and standing firm until managers backed down.
- He uses the story to illustrate how unofficial ID demands become normalized.
Demand Safeguards Before Accepting IDs
- Avoid trusting a single centralized digital-ID without strong independent safeguards and oversight.
- Demand transparency on contractors and breach history before supporting such systems.
