ID Cards

[Princess Ivy]

Trolling through my word files i came accross this piece that i wrote for class. Its about ID cards which they are now trying to introduce here. a friend of mine, with a similar opinion, was telling me about her fiance who has opposing beliefs. i was wondering how you feel about this issue?

When George Orwell first published the novel 1984, he was trying to warn us of the dangers of loss of privacy to the state. Since that time generations of school children have been brought up ever mindful for the signs that BIG BROTHER might be watching them.



This debate has once again flared in the question of a standardized identity card for every member of the public. This to contain finger print and retinal identification. How soon then, cry the religious zealots before the number 666 is tattooed onto all of our foreheads? According to conspiracy theorists worldwide, the government already had all of our information on file, garnered from secret DNA collections during infant vaccinations.



The main argument against the standardized identity card appears to be that it would invade the privacy of the individual and provide the government with more information about each person than they should have access to.



However, , what will the standardized identity card mean for you? Well, if you are not a conspiracy theorist or American militia member who wishes to stay off the government radar to the point where when they end up dead in a ditch from smallpox with the home office not knowing where to send the body, not that much.



We already carry identification in the form of passports, driver’s licenses, student cards and even bus passes. The identity cards will simplify the process. It could even save you time, imagine that little old lady at the front of the post office queue holding you up for your entire lunch hour while she tries to collect her pension with a gas bill for identification. If she had a standardized card, the line would move that much faster.



Now I know that modern popular fiction shows futuristic societies where unmarked legitimate eyeballs sell for a premium and giant conglomerates can steal your identity with the push of a button and destroy your life. I also know that this does not seem to form a major portion of the crime statistics in countries that already employ such identification methods. I also take macabre comfort in knowing that if I do end up dead in a ditch from some non childhood illness related affliction, the home office would know exactly where to send my remains.

[zorcarepublic]

Unlike most people, Im not hostile to ID cards, but neither will I jump with joy if they're introduced. Yeah, sure, it'd be an invasion of privacy, but the question must be asked: Is the defeat of the terrorist organisations worth more than freedom of movement and of speech? If yes, then we should have ID cards. If not, then we shouldn't

I know I've probably trivialised an important issue, but thats my relatively simple point of view.

[Rane Longfox]

Could you please explain how the introduction of ID cards automatically leads to the "defeat of terrorist organisations"? Or, for that matter, how it reduces our freedom of speech?

[blue_cephalopod]

obviously it will defeat the imminant threat terrorism when its introduced in 2012. ill be so glad to pay 80+ quid for mine.

[Foxbat]

I'm pretty neutral about the concept as I already have to carry an ID card for my work so another won't make much difference to me. Personally, I don't think they'll make much difference to the terrorist threat, and probably increase levels of xenophobia.

As for expecting people to pay £80 - well that's just out of order.

[knivesout]

I'd like to be clear on one thing: What terrorist threat? Who are the terrorists targetting the UK, apart from the home-grown ones in Ireland and such?

Genuine question, please answer.

[Leto]

Err, could someone explain me how national ID cards would be more an invasion of privacy than a driver license or a passport ?

Knivesout, as other European countries, UK is on the list of fundamentalist islamist terrorists. Look what happened in Madrid last march.

[Princess Ivy]

From the time I was eighteen, until I came to the UK I carried an ID book. TO the best of my knowledge my fingerprints are still on file with the SA government. Not for commiting a crime, it was simple proceedure to include fingerprints with the ID process in that country. it was no big deal then. in fact it was comforting to know that identity theaft was treated seriously.
But I do agree that the £80 charge is ridiculously high.

[zorcarepublic]

I agree as well. Some people can't even fork out £8 quid for an ID card, let alone £80.

[Leto]

Originally Posted by Princess Ivy

From the time I was eighteen, until I came to the UK I carried an ID book. TO the best of my knowledge my fingerprints are still on file with the SA government. Not for commiting a crime, it was simple proceedure to include fingerprints with the ID process in that country. it was no big deal then. in fact it was comforting to know that identity theaft was treated seriously.
But I do agree that the £80 charge is ridiculously high.

How do they justify such an high price ? At worse when it wasn't free here, an ID was around £15 (for 10 years). Now it's free (well paid by revenue tax).

[knivesout]

Well, India faces more actual attacks per year from Islamic terrorists than any European country I know of. The West has to get a grip!!!

[zorcarepublic]

Well, having a Tory government for 18 years will tend to break the economy...


No, really, I don't know. I think its just a way to finance other parts of the governmental plans for the next couple of years...

[Leto]

Originally Posted by knivesout

Well, India faces more actual attacks per year from Islamic terrorists than any European country I know of. The West has to get a grip!!!

I know.
But franckly, we're not that paranoids. We suffered some islamic attacks, some other form of terrorism (IRA for UK, britton (sp?), basque or corse nationalist here), and the usual random loony, so we take a few precautions. But people are not especially afraid.
But ID card has not for sole purpose to prevent terrorism. Prevent identity fraud and illegal immigration are much bigger issues.

[Princess Ivy]

JP, i'm not paranoid about attacks, niether are most people. however, our governments are, probably for show. just to keep our attention off the mess ups that they are making!

[zorcarepublic]

Yeah, well, that would seem to be the case, and also would also help governments that seem to be tackling terrorism to stay in power, because they can say "Look! Since we have come to power, we've not been attacked by any terrorist organisation!"