Is it paranoia or is someone out to get them?

This article from the Washington Post about 10 USPS postal outlets in the DC area being shut down due to an anthrax scare is both concerning and banal. Concerning because despite the initial anthrax scare two years ago costing tons of money and creating all kinds of havoc, subsequent scares WITH THE SAME TOXIN, installation of irradiating equipment in postal plants, and the removal of postal drop boxes from most public places, it's still happening. Banal because it's become practically routine.

The USPS has acknowledged it's "erring on the side of caution" with the actions taken in shutting down the location and contacting CDC. But, it's still happening. [Did I say that already once or twice? ed.] Perhaps its the price of an essentially open mail system. There are, of course, a variety of technological ways to make such a crime if not impossible to do, then impossible to get away with even once. The trouble is, that might seem like an invasion of privacy, possibly increase the cost of doing business, and reduce the convenience of the postal sytem to its individual users. It's an (digital) identity matter.

So, amp up the juice on the irradiator and dole out the rubber gloves and face masks.

Posted by Grayson at November 7, 2003 12:08 PM