[A.J.Armitage]

.

[Sabertooth]

growl!

[gjenkins]

“If you think it's a bad idea to have an identity card, persuade your fellow citizens.”

SPLAT! Individual rights are like a bug on the windshield of a speeding Porsch.

[Protagoras]

Well stated, thanks for the bump.

[NittanyLion]

Bump for future reference.

[stanz]

We already have National I.D. cards- - -they're called Social Security Cards.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

One of Scalia’s major themes, and one which he has right, is that not everything bad is unconstitutional.

Thanks for the bump, but I disagree with you here. The argument is made by the citation from Scalia. This may or may not be bad policy, but even though Scalia appears to agree that it is bad, as he said that has no weight at all on the question of whether or not it is Constitutional. Policy questions are not up to the courts, but instead are for the legislative and executive branches of government, and the people, not the courts.

On the question of Constitutional justification for the legislation, I am not a lawyer, but from the viewpoint of policy, I consider that it is certainly arguable that the cards might be of benefit to the national defense (even if only by making cases against terrorists easier to prosecute). This being the case the authority for this would be included in the Power to Make War.

[Ben Chad]

Someone please educate me. What freedoms that I presently enjoy will be taken away by a NID card? As a cell phone user and a credit card user, I'm extremely easy to track but I have not noticed anyone tracking me except for marketeers. My driver's license in Texas now has my thumbprint associated with it. I'd love to trade all the plastic crap in my wallet with a single, universal smart card that only I can use to make purchases or vouch for my identity. What am I missing?

[Benson_Carter]

"This is the genius of the Founders: they prohibited a great many abuses by not granting the power to commit them."

great article, but this point hits home. How much better of a nation would we be if the "general welfare" clause hadn't been raped and pillaged?

"This is the United States Constitution. Here is what the government can legally do and how they can legally do it. Everything else is up to the States or the People!"

Only too bad they don't hammer this point home in PUBLIK SKOOL!!!

[rockfish59]

how about tattooing a 'w' on all welfare recipient's foreheads?

how much go*****ed I.D. do they want? does hillary want a 1984 TV in every room? will the old tv show 'i spy' make a comeback?

after going through giving double sets of fingerprints, an FBI check and $60 fee, all for a concealed carry permit, they shouldn't even have to bother with me anymore!

[Mercuria]

BUMP to you, A.J....excellent column...a privilege to be hosting you!!! **g**

[Liberal Classic]

After delivering a speech in Columbia, Missouri, Justice Scalia was asked if he thought national I.D. cards would be unconstitutional. He said that the Fourth Amendment doesn't mention I.D. cards. True enough, as far as it goes (which isn't very far at all). Scalia then added that opponents should try to pass an amendment to the Constitution. "If you think it's a bad idea to have an identity card, persuade your fellow citizens."

I'm amazed. Should this read "If you think it's a good idea to have an identity card, persuade your fellow citizens?"

[SusanUSA]

If they had been in place on September 11, the World Trade Center would have been destroyed by airplanes hijacked by men with national I.D. cards in their wallets next to their driver’s licenses.

Bingo!

I have heard a proposal that NID cards be optional rather than mandatory. Now what would be the purpose in that? I think it's just an attempt to subtly slip it into america's conscious. "Nothing to worry about, don't like it don't do it" way to stifle debate. Silly, since most today wouldn't recognize the dangers of such a card. Soon after the attacks I watched a polling of a "Home Town Meeting" on this and the majority thought it would be an excellent idea!

Thank you for the flag to this. Another great job, AJ!

[annalex]

Agree completely. The real purpose for the national ID is to stop not terrorists but illegal aliens form getting welfare. To remedy that, they should issue ID cards to those who want something from the government, and leave the rest of us alone.

[ctdonath2]

[Cold Heat]

I must say that I completely agree that NID is a bad and potentially dangerous idea. Eventually it could be used to control purchases,travel and even the behavior of the card carriers.

And I'm not a libertarian, just a darn republican.

[rebelsoldier]

What the hell is the point of a damned national ID card when the the national borders are a joke. What's the ID card gonna say, "Citizen John Doe of Canamerimexico"? Screw that BS. Sounds like NWO crapola to me. If Mexican illegals can get away with; "We don't need no stinking badges" attitude, damned if I will carry a stupid, useless card. They better worry about plugging up the GD open seive of a border instead of issuing "feel good" nonsense ID cards.

[davidosborne]

I do not support a NID, however I do support a NATIONAL standard for the issuance of STATE ID's, I know that does not sound much different, but it would be much more efficient to standardize this mess... and I also believe it should be VOLUNTARY..

David C. Osborne (For U.S. Senate in 2004)

[junta]

I'm worried that undocumented immigrants would not have their American ID card and how many hurt feelings it would cause. Perhaps Vincente Fox and his lackeys Gephart and Jorge Bush would work especially hard to get any Mexican/american the proper IDs if they asked. (sarcasm off)

[gerg]

Am I the only conservative that actually supports a national ID card? It would among other things, lessen the chance a person from one state would get mis-treated by police in another state (arrested instead of ticketed for speeding). Another problem I have is the apparant fragrant violation of the 14th amendment that occurs at liquor stores. They don't allow those with out of state ID's buy beer. This would be solved with a national ID. I have never been convinced that it would erode our rights. Please save the breath for more important things like protecting our rights to keep and bear arms.