National ID Cards - Coming Soon to Your Wallet

[WyrreJ]

On the other hand, I do agree with Tone and the others who've said that those who have nothing to hide have little to lose by these types of technologies.

The problem with this attitude is that we really have little to gain and lots to lose. So far, every single benefit that has been posited as coming from a national ID system is either out and out false - they can only decrease security from terrorists and make things easier for illegal immigrants - or are something that should be left to the private sector.

Meanwhile, these kinds of systems open up plenty of potential for abuse and if you think they won't be abused you just don't understand the nature of man. Criminals, both inside and outside the government will abuse the system, it is not a question of if, it is a question of when and in what new and clever ways they will do it.

Way too many people in this thread are confusing patriotism with authoritarianism. At the root, this system is about bigger government for the autocrats in washington and less freedom for lawful citizens. It won't make you any safer, but it will cost you in taxes and it will make you less of a free man.

Go to Canada I'm sure they don't have those kind of cards there, and you can hang out with the rest of the ex-pats, draft dodgers and criminals who found the American system just too hard to deal with. Hell they love your kind up there.

I-Man - I can do the reactionary knee-jerk response 10x better than you: How about instead YOU go to North Korea where they ALREADY have these kinds of cards along with no freedom to travel, freedom of speech or really much of any freedom at all. Hell, sounds like you and tone would love it there. Leave America to those who know what it means to be an American.

[Panther_Black_VX]

Way too many people in this thread are confusing patriotism with authoritarianism. At the root, this system is about bigger government for the autocrats in washington and less freedom for lawful citizens. It won't make you any safer, but it will cost you in taxes and it will make you less of a free man.

The key words here are, "It won't make you any safer". It sincerely won't. I am interestingly indifferent about the cards. The problems we face will not be affected in any substaintial way, let alone be solved, by this national card. The problems, and solutions therein, are much more complicated and start with external and not internal, policies. But that's another thread. However, if the government want to give it the good ole college try, they can be my guest. Tell me where to sign.

My question is what historical examples indicate that this solution works? I'm not sure there are any, that do not entail some significant reduction or curtailing of human rights. What ever you may consider those to be. So is this the way to go?

However we must look at it from the perspective that the govermnet is trying to protect its citizens and NOT trying to affect some deeply rooted change in our way of life for neferious reasons. No matter how misguided we think the direction is.

Ah yes, thus is the delima of an empire. It expands, engulfs, embraces and assilimates so much of the people and cultures in the world during its reign, that is begins to struggle not to lose the very indentity it 'thinks' it had and not what is really and always was.. But I digress......

The logistical headache is enough not to embark on this plan. And that implanting of the chip in our skin, just creeps me out..

“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” (Revelation 13:16–18)

And I'm not even a Christian!!