National ID Card (good or bad)

[Epidemic]

I still fail to understand why people have such a serious problem with national ID card.

Providing proof of citizenship, identity, and the likes.

I am continually vexed by the fear associated with an identity card.

WE already carry dozens of them in our daily life. We have birth certificates, Social security cards, Medical insurance ID, Drivers license, some of us even have passports.

How is a national Identity card bad. Probably a topic for another post.

The use of said card may come into question but having one for voting, acquiring a drivers license and other such things seems to make sense to me.

The card would have to have some restrictions on it. Like only government agencies can require you to produce it...

But just the fear of a piece of plastic which completely validates you, vexes me.

[tmx468]

It is being considered over here as well. I see no problem with it. I have nothing to hide (my debts are there for all to see! )

IMO its a good idea...

[Epidemic]

So many people are violently opposed to it here and I just do not understand it. I think there are some fears of jack booted nazis on every corner asking you to produce your papers. But they already can do things akin to that so what is the big woop.

[whitebeard21]

skip the cards go straight to the tatoos but put them on the forehead for easy display.

[Epidemic]

Great whitebeard21, Why do you oppose it? and why did you not vote?

It allows us to verify claims for social security, it allows us to verify medical claims, drivers licenses, welfare claims, citizenship and more. Why the irrational phobia?

I can see nothing but benefits from it as long as they dont make efforts to track it. Which by the way they already could do that with SSN, credit cards, and more. So why not make it official and reap the benefits along with what ever bad you might be able to think up. BTW 1984 came and went we are still free join us in the present.

[whitebeard21]

I did but about 50 % of my posts are not registering and have to be resubmitted so I now copy to notepad then post. It saves having to retype.

[Epidemic]

Two votes for worst idea ever. But still not a rational argument. Is this telling or what

[Gomer]

Perhaps some people don't bother providing Epidemic with rational arguements anymore... Because when presented with one, he goes AWOL from threads.
case in point

[Prison Kids]

I personally think it is fine, and if it does away with passports, and driver license as well, that would be a big plus!

On the other hand I can understand how many would be opposed to the idea. It is a little scary to think of one organization having all the information of everyone around the world. If it became used for the wrong purposes, such as monitoring the world for worldwide marketing stratagies, or any type of surveys that would otherwise directly affect the way we live, then I think it would do more harm then good.

[Epidemic]

Well prison kids the plan would be a little smaller than world wide.

National ID card would mererly refer citizens of the United states.

Each country could do it or not do it as they saw fit. So it would not help with the passport thing.

When people talk about a national id card it is only within the nation.

[Prison Kids]

Oops, I thought we were talking about an international ID Card (still a cool idea).

I demand another poll!

National ID card.... Sure, why not. Would that also have endosements for driving, so we could be rid of our DL's?

[Redwolf]

I'd support it, but if that little #is going to carry as much power as an SSN, then there needs to be some very large restrictions on who can and can't see it.

[RayH]

How come everyone wants to know everything about me, but they won't tell me what they know or think they know about me?

Never mind tatoos! Brand and chip! Gattica here we come!

[Harold7]

Why not a little chip embedded under the skin to contain all your personal ID data including DNA, then you just can be scanned whenever someone needs the info.

Luckily governments would never do anything to hurt their own citizens or misuse any power... of course since so many here have such a pathological fear and hatred where big business and it's seeming ownership of our politicians and the political process are concerned, I'm surprised at the willingness of so many here to submit to such an imposition on their right to privacy.

Having a healthy fear and mistrust of concentrating too much power in the hands of those in government is borne out from past experience throughout history... just ask anyone who lived behind the Iron Curtain in those worker's paradises or in the Third Reich.

Information is power in the digital age and power ultimately is always abused... usually with the best of intentions, but as the old adage goes "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions"

What you should be asking is, if you are a Republican would you trust a Democrat administration or if you are a Democrat would you trust a Republican administration, with the instrusive power inherent in any national ID requirement for citizens?

[RayH]

Herr Bush and Cheney wouldn't hurt us...No sireee!

But such technology could have been used 30 years ago to find out which base Bush was stationed!

[Prexaspes]

How about compulsory military service?

Now that's something I can support. You serve in our military and you become a citizen is the way it is now.

Sometimes I wonder if America would be a better place if we all had to earn our citizenship.

I definitely support a national ID card.

[jokostel]

bad idea.

[Epidemic]

I hear about all the fear of people knowing too much about you but that information is already out there. I can not see the harm especially since it can be controlled by one set of rules.

What exactly about being able to be identified using a card is so frightening. This is not a database detailing where you were at any given time. It is for all intensive purposes no different than a birth certificate or SSN. Well it is a little different. No one can steal you dna pattern so it is an iron clad identifying card. No more identity theft. SSN if you can produce the card you are that person for all intensive purposes. if you can produce a birth certificate you are that person.

Are you afraid of a birth certificate? how is that different? The rules for producing such a card would be stricter on demand but looser on when you chose to use it. We all fear having our SSN stolen this would be virtually unstealable.

Even if asked on every corner by a cop to produce it what would that do to harm you .

[Epidemic]

Other than snide and flip responses I can not get an idea of how this is worse than producing your birth certificate? And it is a hell of alot more secure.

[Epidemic]

Let me revamp the rules of this thread again. No flip responses. If you have a fear express it. No short responses I am trying to understand how this is so bad that people actually spit bile every time they hear it.