No thanks, I'll use Cash...

USA Today reports that banks are starting to put in more safeguards to protect against data theft.

I'm so glad (not) that they are putting in all of this to guard against online issues, but who's protecting me on the street? Will I someday go to a store, make my selections, and upon stepping up to the check out and presenting my credit card, be asked:

- Can I see your ID?

I imagine that the clerk with take a minute or two to examine the two documents, and then look up and spout:

- Please place your palm on the scanner for verification.

and I'd dutifully follow directions (since even Disney asks for a hand/finger verification). Maybe some folks will give them a #1 first. Perhaps there will be a data glitch and the palm print is not successfully verified within the 0% tolerance and they'll say:

- Can you step over here for a retina scan?

They do this in Europe, right, for those frequent travellers. But oops, I blinked, because I'm getting nervous. So, after failing the test, they'd probably ask:

- Would you mind providing a blood sample?

and that's where I'd draw the line. C'mon, I can't risk those contaminated needles, so, I'd either decline, forego my purchases, or, if I'm desperate, try to cough up some cash to complete my purchase.

Somehow, since we know that the credit bureaus have multiple records under my Social Security Number (which they won't confess or acknowledge), who's to say that all of my personal data hasn't already been cloned or mutilated?