ID Cards

[noxlumos]

Despite suffering a humiliating defeat in the House of Lords over this subject, the Govt still plans to press ahead with the idea, reversing the decision in the Commons.With prices for these things estimated at between �30 and �500 depending on whom you believe, are they really going to accomplish what is expected of them or is it just another erosion of our civil liberties?

[gary baldy]

This is wrong on every level.
I, for one, will resist any attempt to make me have one (especially if i have to pay).
On a side note - do you remember when they bought in the photocards for your driving license? They wacked the prices up -insisted you had to have one and what use are they exactly? Waste of time and money.
I dont oppose photo id for driving in principle but i still have to carry around my tatty old paper license and my photocard has no use what so ever. An ill concieved and badly implemented idea - just like ID cards.
ID cards will become Labour's Poll Tax.

[Loosehead]

Oddly enough I agree with Gary, I just do not trust the governement these powers and with figures like �500 a go being bandied about I really think some level of civil disobedience is inevitable if they insist on going through with it.

Hopefully Tony and his cronies will conclude that it's too much like hard work and ditch the idea at some point.

[AliFlump]

Im at a loss with these ID cards, what exactly are they meant to do? Prove we are British? What?

[Drusilla]

I've never committed a crime in my life, but I will not carry an ID card. If the police want to know who I am, they can look at my driver's licence, or escort me home to check my passport.
I doubt there will be many 'refuseniks' like myself, but I do believe there will be masses of people who will accept possession of an ID card, but will refuse to pay for the 'privelage' of owning one. I'll be interested to see how such cases play out in court. I foresee chaos!

[gary baldy]

Like Drusilla says there will be a large amount of civil disobedience over this (hence my Poll Tax comparison) and perfectly law abiding citizens will be criminalised.
It is not odd that me and Loosehead agree on this - wet liberals like me resent it and Looseheads like Loosehead also resent the intrusion from the state (am i right Loosehead?).
This is the arrogance of power - the government are too blind to see that this is universally despised and will come back to bite them on the a**e.
The only people to benefit will be some useless IT company who wins the massive contract to bring this in, will takes years to do it and run massively over budget (like virtually every government IT scheme) only for it to be scrapped like the poll tax.

[Loosehead]

Yes I think so Gary, we may often inhabit opposite ends of the Political spectrum but I think on this sort of thing there is a common fear, possibly a fear of different outcomes but none the less it's common ground that on this occasion I'll happily share. I just don't trust the government not to misuse this kind of power. Someone asked a question a couple of weeks back about taking DNA from everyone at birth which illicited a similar attitude from me.

There are lots of people who will see this as another form of governement nannying and also another form of extortion, I can forsee a lot of problems if the government presses on regardless.

[Drusilla]

Sorry, I spelt 'privilege' wrong. I'm having a light headed moment and I'm not sure if it's the result of yesterday's MRI scan or gary baldy and Loosehead agreeing on a political matter.

[jake-the-peg]

I don't think I've ever seen a thread where so many of us with so different political views have agreed - albeit for different reasons!

Speaks volumes!

[gary baldy]

I dont know - the driving without insurance thing was pretty unanimous!

[Zen]

Just imagine,
Tesco checkout

How Tenji: Hello, can you sell me a one-month travel insurance policy?
Tesco: Yes sir, let me have your ID card... Thanks. Do you have any current health problems?
HT: No, nothing.
Tesco: You sure, sir?
HT: Yes, why?
Tesco: Well it says here you were at the doctor's last week.
HT: Oh, that was nothing serious.
Tesco: Let me just... Oh yes, touch of the old Farmer Giles... No that wont be a problem. Probably sitting on cheap charter flight seats that's to blame. I see you're going British Airways this time around, though. Very wise. Oops, pressed the wrong button. [Picture of How Tenji's hideously empiled anus appears on every plasma screen in the shop, accompanied by name, address, telephone number and email address].
Old lady in queue: Oooh they look sore dear. Have you tried Anusol?
Tesco: I see your car had a bit of a struggle with the MOT. Garage not keen on Communists?
HT: Can we just do the travel insurance, and these frozen peas?
Tesco: Peas? Shall I just check that don't have a genetic predisposition to pea allergy? It'll only take a minute to scan your genome... I understand. You're in a bit of a hurry. Very good sir. Next please.

[noxlumos]

Zen, that is without doubt one of the funniest answers I've ever read and probably one of the most persuasive arguments against ID cards as well. You really should send that to Tony Blair to demonstrate exactly what his "people" think of his daft ideas :)

[Zen]

Not my work unfotunately,however read saome more here,

http://www.therockalltimes.co.uk/2005/07/04/id-card.html

[Zen]

Sorry about the spellings, ordles keyboa d nee s a n w battery.

[bernardo]

The whole idea about ID cards started off with an (entirely erroneous) idea that it would somehow prevent crime, terrorism or illegal immigration (it won't) but the details of the proposals are that there will be a huge national database of c.27 bits of information about each person. It will be a crime (fine of �2,500) to fail to tell the authorities whenever one of those bits of information changes. It will therefore be used mainly as a revenue-raising device by fining people for common trivial infringements.

[LazyGun]

Another erosion of civil liberties IMO.... not at all happy about the idea of having to carry an ID card, and am particularly irritated that we would be expected to pay for the privilege!!

I was thinking about this though.... would people be happy to have /carry an ID card if it replaced the driving licence and passport for instance?

[Celtigra3]

And what are they going to do to the people who can't afford �500 for one of these ID cards? Throw them in jail. I suppose that would be a good idea, then they could let all the real criminals out and free the cells. Second thoughts, we might be safer in jail. Three square meals, telly, no work, playstations, etc., etc.!!! And free heating, board and lodgings.

[Loosehead]

LMAO zen.

Bernardo, Good point about the revenue gathering exercise.

[OBonio]

Another reason to worry about them :

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/18/lefties_jinx_id_ cards/

[mightyWBA]

ID cards are just going to be another stealth tax.Anyway how do you prove who you are to get one?Take a gas bill with your name and address on it!

[diana.m]

Tesco know more about my every day life than any government dept, they know what I buy each week, when how often I shop etc., because i have a points card. I have nothing to hide, so am not worried about ID cards in that respect, but I will not pay for the privelige, and does it mean you have to carry it with you at all times? Get fined for not doing so? Ive got better things to carry/remember. I pay for passport there is a photo on that, surely thats enough. I cant see how it will improve peoples safety/security that much as others have made me realise its just another personal tax. We pay enough taxes to be able to pay exhuberant unrealistic greedy MP's salaries.