Congress Considering National ID Card

The American Conservative Union ^ | October 18, 2004 | aculistmanager@laptoplobbyist.com

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

There is not one single instance that I know of where scanning national ID cards helped catch terrorists. Meanwhile, the government could eventually require you to produce your national ID card (a driver's license with federal standards) at checkpoints, places of commerce, and other places. Meanwhile, the real terrorists may just go completely underground, with ID-carrying sympathizers doing business for them until the time comes to attack. Do we really want an intrusive measure of dubious value in catching the real bad guys? How about simply beefing up border security and beefing up the FBI and CIA (if we even need to do that) to engage in actual detective work to intercept these bastards?

[aspiring.hillbilly]

There is no way to devise an ID card that cant be forged and duplicated. Much less to rely on the TSA dunderheads who are hired to check them... Its a lousy idea for sure!!!!

[trebb]

HMMMM - and Kerry is complaining that the Prez is not fully enacting the Commission recommendations, while the Prz's people say that some of the recommendations are troubling or have other problems. I can see a most effective ad here...

[dirtboy]

There is not one single instance that I know of where scanning national ID cards helped catch terrorists.

Considering that we don't have one, your statement really doesn't have any meaning.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Police State BUMP!

As long as our government agencies are able to share criminal and intelligence information, there shouldn't be a need for this intrusive measure.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I'm talking about other countries, not this one.

[Fixit]

Image courtesy the agitator.

[stinkerpot65]

We already have one. It's called a driver's license. From what I am reading, the bill requires a standardization of driver's license formats.

Got mixed feelings on this - in an age where terrorists are getting closer to having nuclear weapons, we may not have a choice.

Where is the proof that we will be required to show ID at grocery stores or crossing state lines? Note that we already have to show ID to board an airplane. Not saying that ACU is wrong, but I would like to see some documentation.

[TBBT]

I think it's a great Idea. You should have to produce it to register to vote and to receive a ballot.

[ScottM1968]

Well said.

[atomicpossum]

Given the fact that airport screeners still apparently can't detect things they're supposed to detect reliably, and that there are many, many stories of wanted individuals slipping through the holes in law enforcement, it would seem that this would have the most significant effect on people who are not terrorists of criminals but still have to submit to obtaining the card and carrying it at all times for 'identification.'

[gunnygail]

Agreed. Between Illegal Aliens and Terrorists, we may have to knuckle down to persevere.

[technochick99]

There is not one single instance that I know of where scanning national ID cards helped catch terrorists.

Considering that we don't have one, your statement really doesn't have any meaning.

Well, how WOULD it? Citizens can be terrorists too. I think the burden of proof is on those wishing to institute a whole new program on to society.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Where is the proof that we will be required to show ID at grocery stores or crossing state lines?

I'm not sure that's going to happen, either...for now. But do you really want to risk the creation of a surveillance state with these things?

[Political Junkie Too]

Meanwhile, the government could eventually require you to produce your national ID card (a driver's license with federal standards) at checkpoints, places of commerce, and other places.

I already have one. It's called my passport.

If we issue passports to every US citizen, and require foreigners who are here legally to produce theirs (which they must have had to get in, right?), then the problem is solved, right?

We already have a national bureaucracy in place to manage this. It's the Department of Immigration and the passport offices. We can't tamper with our passports for domestic political purposes or the rest of world will reject our passports as valid entry documents.

-PJ

[Fixit]

President Reagan thought otherwise. He likened a national ID system to the mark of the beast, and I agree with him.

He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead [or in his wallet] so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.
                                      Rev. 13:16

http://www.computerbytesman.com/biometrics/verichip.htm

The National ID Card: It's Baaack!

Then-Attorney General William French Smith argued that a perfectly harmless ID card system would be necessary to reduce illegal immigration. A second cabinet member asked: why not tattoo a number on each American's forearm? According to Martin Anderson, the White House domestic policy adviser at the time, Reagan blurted out "My god, that's the mark of the beast." As Anderson wrote, "that was the end of the national identification card" during the Reagan years.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Agreed. Between Illegal Aliens and Terrorists, we may have to knuckle down to persevere.

And when the threats of terrorism and illegal invation recede? Will they actually discard the national ID then, or will they simply think of another reason to keep the program implemented?

[gunnygail]

THAT is the problem. Terrorism and Illegals are a LONG-Term problem. The Roman Empire, for example, faced BOTH.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Of course, the information on the cards will be available to just everyone. Private investigators, divorce lawyers, political opponents, ID thieves, nosy reporters, curious hackers, disgruntled ex-employees, etc.

Abuse occurse not because it's useful, but because it's easy.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

If we issue passports to every US citizen, and require foreigners who are here legally to produce theirs (which they must have had to get in, right?), then the problem is solved, right?

Then the surveillance state will merely require us to show our passports hither and yon (an internal passport system). Who says those cannot be faked by crooks?