"quite willing to provide the software for free" (Score 1)

or perhaps you didn't read the linked article. so larry is someone to pass over the inevitable huge profits his company could potentially make if the US decided to go forward with this plan. (sorry, they won't be using mysql on linux to do something like this) doesn't sound terribly opportunistic to me. being the smart guy that he is, he's loaded, and doesn't mind donating money (or nix his profits) to further ideas he's behind. i'd do the same. whether you like it or not, this happens -all- the time. too bad most of the kids here at slashot simply reguritage the views of slashot editors (corporation X is evil, linux can handle anything, legislation to protect anything is evil, etc.) rather than -really think- about the risks vs. benefits in any particular topic before posting. having a good nationwide identification system would sort out tons of issues and problems that -we as americans- deal with -every day-. but noooo, not on slashdot. a system like this is instantly 'orwellian', not 'oh cool, i could ditch all this crap in my wallet for one card' or 'great, with this system, i'd substantially safer on an airliner or at a ball game'. besides, you have a driver's license? do you pay taxes? ever had the cops come talk to you? you're in a half dozen federal and state databases anyway, probably fingerprints and all. let's hook those databases up and sort out some -national- problems and enjoy daily some of the benefits it would bring. larry's buying.