Congress Considering National ID Card

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

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

If one of the most liberal organizations of the country, and one of the most conservative, are on the same side, which side is right?

Could it be possible that they're...*BOTH*...right?

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

We already have national IDs... Social Security numbers and drivers licenses (while drivers licenses are state-issued, the data -including your digitized photo- go into a national data bank).

Oh, great. I guess we're already well on the way...

[Chemist_Geek]

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

There isn't any in the bill; that rhetoric is in there just to get people riled up.

[Chemist_Geek]

We haven't tried simple steps yet - for example, just enforcing existing visa requirements in force at the time would have kept most of the hijackers out. If we apply straightforward approaches and they still fail, then maybe we can talk about a national ID card. But we have to exhaust other possibilities first.

But realize the inherent dangers in my position - that failure of straightforward approaches may be defined as a successful terror attack.

I appreciate your post. It's well-written and clear, and cogently makes reasonable points against national I.D. proposals.

I'm not sure I agree - I still lean towards it - but your argument here is quite good.

[Fixit]

And only 44 responses before ad hominem attacks began.

Where, Mr. Junior, do you find authority for a national ID system in the constitution?

[EQAndyBuzz]

"Not until government bureaucrats start asking for it at checkpoints. Then it violates your Fourth Amendment right to be secure from unreasonable searches, as far as I'm concerned."

Whay would they? They do not do it now.

[EQAndyBuzz]

And that is why you make it so it cannot be counterfeited.

[BufordP]

Thanks for the heads up.

[KC_for_Freedom]

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?

Right, I agree. Just got back from a foreign trip, passport was accepted everywhere. Upon return, customs proved no big problem. Was searched alot at airports, they would have found weapons had I been carrying. Procedures in aircraft seemed good too. Whenever the cockpit door was opened, the flight attendants knew in advance and cleared the area and ran interference for the crew coming out to use the potty. I was impressed, they were taking the thing seriously.

PS, the ID card issue is a done deal (that is, we already have it) except for computer tracking which is still a ways from usefullness. Will it catch bad guys? Some I would bet, (the lazy ones) and it will make tracking the bad guys in reverse much easier when they are identified.

[lilylangtree]

No, no way, no how, no chance.

[wku man]

Those advocating a national ID will point to the oft-abused "necessary and proper" and "interstate commerce" clauses for Constitutional justification. They'd be wrong, of course, but that hasn't stopped any power grab in the past. I fear this is a foregone conclusion, and just another step closer to the edge of the cliff.

Scoputs Out! Cavalry Ho!

[Doctor Stochastic]

And that is why you make it so it cannot be counterfeited.

How do you propose to do that? You will be betting your life on the efficacy of your proposal.

[wku man]

That's the problem with yeller-dawg Pubbies and yeller-dawg 'Rats...neither party can bring themselves to admit that sometimes the other guy is right.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[Marine_Uncle]

"Oddly enough, the ACLU is fighting this, too. Strange bedfellows, don't you think? I guess the ACU is just one letter different from the ACLU."

I mispelled ACLU.........in earlier post reply. Sorry!

[Junior]

Never said anything about the authority for a national ID system, did I? I simply pointed out that the first "Jesus is coming! Look busy!" post showed up fairly quickly. These types of threads always attract end timers with their quotes from Revelation and their assurances that, even though they've been guessing wrong about the Second Coming for the past two millennia, this time they know they're right.

But nice attempt at changing the subject.

[Marine_Uncle]

What the hell am I saying! I am loosing my mind!

I meant ACU ..................aaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!
Hang in their folks!

[Doctor Stochastic]

The ID would be inserted into a machine with a national database that could bring up a photo and other pertinant info.

How does this help? How do you keep the database up-to-date? What about those who lost or damaged their ID?

How will an undercover cop (who will necessarily have a false ID) be allowed to vote?

[Chode]

"Does this take away any of our freedoms? No. Violates our civil liberties? No."
Not until government bureaucrats start asking for it at checkpoints.

remember guns don't kill people... people kill people!!!
if they are to the popint of setting up check points... your plain old DL will work just as well for their purposes as a Standardized License will

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

There isn't any in the bill; that rhetoric is in there just to get people riled up.

And some President in the (near?) future might think: why have a National ID if we don't make use of it...