Life Regulated by QR Code.

While I know I have written about this is the past, I though I had also done so on my own substack.   Apparently not.

In February of 2022, my family enjoyed an “Eki Kara Hike”.  Briefly, these are hikes sponsored by rail companies to boost ridership.   Participants receive a detailed map with points of interest explained and often coupons for free or discounted products or services.  My wife and I have been enjoying these since 2003.  They were stopped during the earlier days of the panic and started back up late 2021.  The hike we went on in February 2022 was not our first since they resumed.  It and all the others since resumption require masks to be worn, though as always, I do not wear a mask.

What made this hike stand out in absurdity was found within a brand new shopping area under the elevated tracks near the goal, or ending of the hike.  Soon after we entered the shopping area, one of our kids informed us that they needed to use the restroom, NOW.  Looking for the public restrooms, I see this sign.

Phot taken AFTER bilges were pumped!

“What The Fauci is a QR Code Only Restroom?”  I asked myself.  I had no answer.  Kid jumping up and down telling us they really really need to go, we sought out anyone who could provide the answer.  Finally, a sales clerk in a store provided it.  To use the restrooms in the shopping area, you need the QR code.  To get the QR code, you need to make a qualifying purchase at a qualified store.  Upon completion of the transaction, the sales clerk can provide the QR code to be scanned by your idiot phone.  Then you can have the QR code scanner at the restroom read the QR code on your phone to open the door and let you in.  Not what you want to have to learn and do when your 8 year old is doing the “The I gotta go!” Dance.

Luckily, my wife has an idiot phone as I do not and I do not carry my iPad on hikes.  Actually, I rarely carry it on family outings.  She having hers, we narrowly averted an accident.

Now, imagine when this tech is more universally applied and married to the ESG social credit system already in use for the corporate world.  It is already being used to restrict who can and can not attend public events in my city just outside of Tokyo.  Museums and aquariums in Tokyo are also using the QR code system whereby those who wish to purchase of receive tickets in the case of free admission, need to apply for a lottery to get the tickets.  Winners then get a QR code emailed to them.  Experience thus far has been that events that were previously open to one and all are now in roped off sections of public spaces with one entry and one differing exit gates where we must have our QR codes scanned, temperature taken, sanitize our hands and wear a mask to enter and QR codes scanned and sometimes hands sanitized yet again to exit.

Let’s consider the current reality.  Attendance to just about everything is now rationed through lottery, including events in parks that used to be open to all.  Once you get a rationed ticket to enter, you must submit the QR code sent to you for scanning from your device, have your temperature taken, be observed sanitizing your hands and have a mask upon your face.  To leave you must have the QR code on your device scanned again.  At at least some public restrooms, you must first make a purchase, not any purchase from any of the stores in the shopping center, but “qualifying purchases from a qualified vendor.”  Think of how this can be misused and abused.

Now consider what power we have ceded when we allow this to be coupled with the ESG social credit scoring system currently in use for corporations.  Don’t know what ESG is?  You need to learn all you can about this and do so yesterday.  In short, ESG stands for “Environment, Social Justice and Governance” or derivatives thereof.  What financial services are and are not available to corporations is based upon their ESG score.   International legal, accounting, and financial firms are advertising ESG score improvement services for corporations with at least one doing so for individuals.  Large banks now have ESG managers.  Once this is applied to individuals and the QR code scanners in place, it is game over.  You will do as you are told, buy what you are to buy, not do what you are not to do, and not buy from whom you are not to buy from or you will not be able to enter any public venue, access your bank account, buy gasoline nor groceries.  You will not even be able to take your children to the park or a public restroom.   This is it folks. The time when we have just two choices; comply or die, is fast upon us.    

Whether by design or opportunity seized, the panic generated by covid is allowing authorities to implement controls that would otherwise be resisted against.