DNA

Had a lively argument about a national DNA database with a couple of mates over a beer or two which was topical if nothing else. They reckon we would all sleep easier in out beds if the police had everyone's DNA on file and DNA samples were taken from everyone entering the country.

It's the old ideal world and world we live in dilemma. I am much more cynical. If we ignore the Government's record of losing just about every database it comes across and the fact that it has not yet managed to commission a large scale computer system that actually works, I reckon it would be a thin end of a big wedge.

We would probably find that scores if not hundreds of Government and official bodies and quangos would have access and would find spurious reasons to use it and, knowing our leaders these days, the database would almost certainly be flogged off to insurance companies who would use it to put up life premiums or even deny cover completely to people with certain genetic traits.

We have had fingerprints for decades but there has been no call for a national database of dabs - but then they don't actually give you any additional information, useful or otherwise, do they?. The only thing I ever believe about the powers that be is that there is always a hidden agenda. What do you think?