Use technology to protect the president

One of the top recent news stories is the gate-crashing couple at the White House state dinner. Enough has been written about the White House finger-pointing. The most appalling photo was of the woman shaking the hand of the president in the receiving line.

It seems to me, that with today's technology, the Secret Service could develop a more or less fool proof method of checking people in than relying on a list. Government employees do not think outside the box; they have their pensions to consider. However, here is a freebie.

Each invitation would have a Radio Frequency Identification chip inserted in the stock. As a minimum, the chip would contain the name and address of the attendee, plus a randomly selected identification number. Perhaps the attendee's picture could also be included. Since it could be read at a distance of five feet or so, the person could just walk through and the system would verify that he is an invitee. I will leave the rest of this system to the imagination of the Secret Service.

Joseph F. Koenen

Arlington Heights