[Disclaimer: I’m at work right now, so I can’t get access to the links I had to cite, but I’ll add them to this thread once I’m home again and can retrieve them from my favourites list]
Does anyone know anything about this “Real” ID act that was passed sometime in the last week or so, allowing the creation of a national ID system in the US within the next three or so years?
The information I have says it was passed because it was stapled to the back of an act for security of troops in Iraq and/or funding for victims of the asia tsunamis, and no-one had the cojones to argue against any of those other acts just to stop this one going through.
More information I read also states that the bill was passed in part because it was put to the senate after many people had left for the weekend, and didn’t even see it to vote on it.
Anyway, my point. On the idea of a National ID - I’m not for it, I like my (relative) anonymity. But I can see how a government would support one, and run in the correct manner it can be useful for security. But I don’t agree with the underhanded way of getting something passed that they appeared to know most people would object to. It makes it seem like there’s some ulterior motive that they’re trying to hide, and quite frankly that’s more than a bit scary.
Was it passed only because it was publish on the back of the "Resolution that killing "? Yes. It it totally useless to the purpose it is intended for? Yes.
Basically, I think it’s idiotic and will do little, if anything, to deter or catch actual terrorists. The resources would be far better expended doing actual intelligence work, and it’s stupid to have state bureaucrats enforce complex federal laws that they don’t understand.
I expect that it will not catch terrorists, will not get unlicensed/uninsured drivers etc off the roads and will not have any effect on any illegal immigration. I expect it will be a bureaucratic mess and an enforcement nightmare.
My main reason for bringing it up is given the utterly pathetic lap-dog stance John Howard has taken with the US of late, how long is it before they try something like that over here?
On one level, it does seem like a good idea, with a standardised form of ID around the country. But then there’s all the secrecy, and the ‘You MUST do this by this time’ which is a bit offputting. I’m still tending towards slightly eeked out by this.
I’ll check that thread to see what’s going there. Cheers.