On Mon, 27 Oct 2003 10:25:36 -0500 (EST), Sean Donelan wrote:
Again, look the postal mail system. One proposal required everyone mail letters in person at the post office, and show id to the postal clerk. The problem is it really doesn't solve the problem. Third-party trust systems don't scale well beyone one or two degrees of separation. And there is only one major postal system.
Side note: This is already underway. USPS is starting with "bulk discount" mail but has published plans to extend same to all stamps. ..... The US Postal Service proposed a new rule in the Federal Register today that would require senders of discounted mail to identify themselves on the envelope/package. Although individuals typically do not use discounted mail, it is clear from the information in the rule that USPS is moving toward sender identification for all mail users. Check out the last sentence: [...] "As background, two congressional committees urged the Postal Service to explore the concept of sender identification, including ``the feasibility of using unique, traceable identifiers applied by the creator of the mail piece.'' S. Rept. 107-212, p. 50; see also H. Rept. 107-575, p. 46. The President's Commission on the United States Postal Service recently recommended the use of sender identification for every piece of mail. ``Embracing the Future,'' Report of the President's Commission on the United States Postal Service (July 31, 2003) pp. 147-8. Requiring sender-identification for discount rate mail is an initial step on the road to intelligent mail." http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access .gpo.gov/2003/03-26438.htm http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access .gpo.gov/2003/pdf/03-26438.pdf & http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20031026-124606-8419r.htm 'Smart stamps' next in war on terrorism By Audrey Hudson Published October 26, 2003 Sending an anonymous love letter or an angry note to your congressman? The U.S. Postal Service will soon know who you are. Beginning with bulk or commercial mail, the Postal Service will require "enhanced sender identification" for all discount-rate mailings, according to the notice published in the Oct. 21 Federal Register. The purpose of identifying senders is to provide a more efficient tracking system, but more importantly, to "facilitate investigations into the origin of suspicious mail." ....... -- A host is a host from coast to coast.................wb8foz@nrk.com & no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433 is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433