ATWT Discussion Group

Topic: WHERE DO YOU STAND ON NATIONAL ID CARDS?

More importantly, if you care about this issue, where does your presidential candidate stand?   I know where mine stands.   He's totally against it.   How about yours?

I care about freedom and liberty.  Can't see that that little thing bothers very many of the candidates at all! 

Hi Fee,

Have to admit that I haven't thought much about national ID cards. Is the purpose to deter illegal aliens? Is it a way to prevent terrorists from entering the country? Unless there is some way to keep them from being counterfeited, they probably won't do much good.

I'm wondering if other countries have them. Does the UK? I know there have been some measures put in place because of the subway bombings. And I can see it. During war time, there have been temporary suspension of individual liberties. IMO we are at war against terrorists and have been for decades.

Replies: (list all replies)

I think there is talk in the UK about national ID cards and here in Canada talk too. During the war we were all issued ID cards but I don't remember if there was a picture that went with it. I have no problem with them in fact a lot of places I go to I am often asked for picture ID and I use my driver's licence such as when I want to write a check for something. As for a national ID well I suppose some people will think it's an infringement of their right to privacy but I have no problem with it.

The bad part of this is the extent of information they have in it. And it's the precursor to the microchip to be injected, which is already being used some places. They made a big deal out of Charles and William getting their microchips. And the question--how much do you value your privacy? fee

I also don't know much about national ID cards so I really don't have an opinion at this time but to answer your question, fee, about how much we value our privacy, I have always felt that if you have nothing that you need to hide or are ashamed of, how much privacy do we need? I would rather lose some silly privacy and have terrorists be documented and made to leave the country than have all the privacy in the world. What would you not want to be made known? I suppose if I think about it a while, I could come up with something. Perhaps medical records could keep one from getting health insurance but then you should be answering honestly when you apply for it. Help me here fee, what would you not want known without getting too personal. Just give some examples. Thanks, J.

I need a lot of privacy and I have nothing to 'hide'. As an American citizen, I have the 'right to privacy'. It's one of our most important rights, IMO. Our country was founded on it. A democratic form of gov't dies when it is taken away. So even though most people have nothing that they have to hide, we need to keep it from being taken away from us! Privacy is NOT silly. Tess

Well, I think we have a lot to lose if our health records become public. We could be denied health insurance or life insurance, or we could be turned down for employment. Also, I read a fiction book about someone who used genetic mapping to determine how long someone was going to live and if they had long longevity, these assisted living/nursing homes would not take them and these people would not be able to get long term disability insurance./mm

Ditto to what Janie said! That's the way I feel about it. I value my privacy, but the US has had to make changes since 9/11 and if I have to give up some of my privacy to help prevent terrorists in the country, I'm all for it...Roxie

There are a lot better ways to combat terrorism than to give up our rights as US citizens. The people responsible for 9/11 were here illegally, weren't they? If we had National ID cards, it wouldn't have helped at all. All it will do is give people a false sense of security and we'll be giving up more of our freedom to get that false sense.

I'm sure there are better ways, but I'm willing to do my part. I don't feel like I am giving up any rights as a US citizen at all. I have nothing to hide so I'm not worried about it. Roxie

National ID cards would not prevent terrorists or anyone else from entering the U.S. National ID cards would be issued to U.S. residents, probably citizens. And that's sort of what a U.S. Passport is - proof of citizenship. So why do we need a national ID card

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