Two days after the program was launched amid widespread fear it would be prone to breaches of privacy, personal data was accidentally released on over 2500 people taking part in Japan’s new nationwide identification system.

Should I point out that Japan is one of those countries that most Americans think of as technologically advanced (generally because, compared to us, they are)? Do I need to mention that some groups favor a similar plan for the U.S.? Does it need to be stated that if anyone can take an already screwed up plan and screw it up even more, it’s the feds?

Nah. Too easy.

Japan isn't more technically advanced than the US or Europe.

They are better at miniturization and applying some technologies to consumer goods.

In the big fields like Aero-space, shipping, computers, wireless, biotech. The Japanese are very far behind.

I could see a system like the Japanese are trying to implement work if done right, but when you have a fusion of private and public sector, it's not going to work.

This is how you make it work.

Little punch cards stored in a basement somewhere.

If you put this data on a computer with a network cable hooked up to the back it will not be secure.