There is a huge amount of information to collect based on subjects' reactions to these requests for DNA. At the very least, the cops must be compiling a naughty/nice list indexed to license plate based on who accepts a cheek swab. Making the link from license plate to individual is pretty easy, especially if they're also taking video of their proceedings. People are forced to play the game and there's no way to win.

The answer to that seems fairly apparent: To prevent or stifle a popular uprising against those in charge. Our government no longer works for us. In many ways, it works against us.

Oh, it's a whirlwind alright. The big organizers, promoters and builders whirl in, scoop up all the money and whirl back out of town. Leaving the locals within some hundreds of kilometer radius holding out empty bags if not outright saddled with debt.

If I recall, the system configs hadn't been saved to non-volatile memory. Reloading the routers as part of a standard Cisco password recovery/reset would have resulted in empty configs. As much as SF city government hated Terry Childs, they apparently loved his network equipment configs.

Yeah, we've all seen how effective Congress, as a group, is. And how interested they are in ensuring our rights to privacy.

I'm sure they would have gotten right to the bottom of this mess and straightened things out ASAP. </sarcasm>

Condor flies 767s from Frankfurt to and from Fairbanks. We see 747s every time Anchorage is shut down for weather. And Alaska Airlines is poised to drop 737 service in favor of the Bombers.

Statistically, 0% of airline flights have been hijacked, exploded or crashed into big buildings ... EVER!

I'm not too worried about individuals seeing me. I care deeply about how the government seeing and tracking me, particularly in real-time. They have to power to blatantly or subtly do me harm. They can trump up charges, because everyone eventually breaks a law, and throw me in jail. If I'm driving to a protest, they can arrange for my credit card to not work at the gas pumps. Deny fuel to enough people and the protest fizzles. Strategically block one or two opposition leaders this way and stall whole movements. If this hasn't already been done, it will be.

Harder still to stand beside him when he is locked up, unable to communicate with any but his jailers.

If these bombers are Afghani, Iraqi, Iranian, etc and pissed off at the US (not difficult to imagine, but that's not currently supported by any publicly available evidence), I'm sure they would much rather have blown up the Pentagon or Air Force One. Even if they were well funded, what are the chances of success attacking a hardened military target vs the Boston Marathon finish line? Only an idiot would would attempt a face-to-face attack on the US military. One's chances of survival are much higher against a soft target.

R8J (pretent you're a cop reading the plate with phonetic alphabet)

The US may have done it longer, but we've sucked at it.

I have no memory of attending 1st or 2nd grade. Evidence from my parents suggests that is exactly because of the teachers. Thankfully, they moved me to private school for 3rd-8th.

A battleground medic fresh back from the sand wouldn't be my first choice of healthcare provider if I were having a heart attack. Not only do they not have the certifications, they don't have the training to provide care in a non-trauma civilian situation. Bring-em-on if I get shot, but that's not going to provide enough employment for returning Army medics unless gang wars really heat up.

My guess is because it started as a project in Italy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arduino#History