We're only transhuman after all

WARNING: Chip implants may cause cancer and serious side effects to your mental and spiritual health.

Microchip implants are already a reality if you're a dog living in Los Angeles County. I learned about this by doing a quick search in Google news for the words "chip" and "implant".

One of the top stories was "Dogs suffer cancer after ID chipping". It was bad enough that the chips seemed to be causing cancer in the dogs, but what really upset me was when I read this.

"I wasn't in favor of getting Charlie chipped, but it was the law," said Lori Ginsberg, the Chihuahua's owner, citing an ordinance that requires all dogs over the age of four months in unincorporated Los Angeles County be microchipped. Dog owners who refuse to comply face a $250 fine for the first offense and up to six months in jail and $1,000 fine for continued non-compliance.

I had heard of pet owners voluntarily having their pets "chipped", but I didn't realize it had become mandatory in some parts of the US. What's next?

Transhuman 0.9

Some state legislators are concerned enough that they have begun to pass legislation that will make it illegal to implant a microchip in a person without permission. The latest state considering such legislation is Georgia.

The bill, which now goes to the full House, would make it a misdemeanor to implant a microchip, sensor, transmitter or tracking device into individuals against their will.
[...]
If the bill clears the House and is signed by the governor, Georgia would join California, North Dakota and Wisconsin as states that have passed laws prohibiting the forced implantation of microchips in people.

This bill is very limited in scope. It does nothing to slow down this technology. In fact it seems to give some legal cover for "chipping" as long as it is done with the "consent" of the individual.

For instance, lets say you just got a job offer from MK-Tech. But as a condition of employment you have to agree to have a MK-Tech implant which will positively identify you and provide you access to their facilities. That's not much different from requiring you to take a drug test or lie detector test as a condition of employment. In all of these cases you give "consent", but do you really have much choice? Well, not if you want the job.

"Consent" is something which is easily coerced. Chipping could be a condition for getting a driver's license. The federal government tends to like to coerce individuals to follow their suggestions by linking one federal program with another. Want federal student aid for college? Sure, but you better have registered with the Selective Service first.

The feds do the same thing to coerce state governments. Want federal money for highways? Sure, but you better have passed state legislation requiring seat belts. It's your "choice".

Transhuman 1.0

Is this really transhuman technology? That's a fair enough question. I would say this type of chipping strictly for identifying purposes is like pre-transhuman technology. Let's call it Transhuman 0.9.

So what would Transhuman 1.0 look like? Would you believe brain implants?

Intel: Chips in brains will control computers by 2020
[Thanks to Victoria for bringing this article to our attention.]

Brain waves will replace keyboard and mouse, dial phones and change TV channels.

Computerworld - By the year 2020, you won't need a keyboard and mouse to control your computer, say Intel Corp. researchers. Instead, users will open documents and surf the Web using nothing more than their brain waves.

Scientists at Intel's research lab in Pittsburgh are working to find ways to read and harness human brain waves so they can be used to operate computers, television sets and cell phones. The brain waves would be harnessed with Intel-developed sensors implanted in people's brains.

The scientists say the plan is not a scene from a sci-fi movie -- Big Brother won't be planting chips in your brain against your will. Researchers expect that consumers will want the freedom they will gain by using the implant.

"I think human beings are remarkable adaptive," said Andrew Chien, vice president of research and director of future technologies research at Intel Labs. "If you told people 20 years ago that they would be carrying computers all the time, they would have said, 'I don't want that. I don't need that.' Now you can't get them to stop [carrying devices]. There are a lot of things that have to be done first but I think [implanting chips into human brains] is well within the scope of possibility."

Intel research scientist Dean Pomerleau told Computerworld that users will soon tire of depending on a computer interface, and having to fish a device out of their pocket or bag to access it. He also predicted that users will tire of having to manipulate an interface with their fingers.

Instead, they'll simply manipulate their various devices with their brains.

"We're trying to prove you can do interesting things with brain waves," said Pomerleau. "Eventually people may be willing to be more committed ... to brain implants. Imagine being able to surf the Web with the power of your thoughts."

Sounds cool, huh? Now do you see the connection between videos by pop music idols like Black Eyed Peas and album covers by Christina Aguilera? I do.

The public is being trained - conditioned - to accept this technology as good. After watching more of the upcoming (mark my words) music videos with transhumanist themes the extreme cognitive dissonance (revulsion) caused by the idea of a chip implanted in your brain will be resolved.

That's just Transhuman 1.0. Can you imagine what Transhuman version 2.0 will look like? What about 3.0, 4.0, 5.0... ?

And there's no going back. Once Pandora's Box has been opened it cannot be closed again. Once the Genie has been let out of the bottle, there is no way to put it back in again.

The atomic bomb was the 20th century Genie which escaped from its bottle. Transhumanism may very well be the 21st century Genie. Just because we haven't blown up the whole world does not mean that we have successfully contained the Atomic Genie. It still hangs above our heads like the Sword of Damocles.

Atomic bomb development was done in secret as part of a military project during World War II. Transhuman technologies are being developed to a large degree in public view. The public was given no choice with regards to the development and use of the atomic bomb. We do have a choice when it comes to transhuman technology. But it will take a huge effort for individuals to free themselves from the mind control slavery that seeks to impose a transhuman future on the people of the world.

Are you with us?