People 'can't wait for ID cards'

[minestrone]

Where in Europe do you have an ID card that is anywhere near as wide ranging as the one they're building in England?

In the Nordics, it is simpler than a NI number.

In Eastern Europe your personal information is never sold to companies.

So, where exactly?

Well if you only need them in England I won't need one then

[minestrone]

So is there is no terrorism or illegal working in these countries? Spain has ID cards and as far as I know, they have had bombings and lots of people working there illegaly. So how do ID cards stop this again?

I never said it would.

[Purple Dalek]

Well if you only need them in England I won't need one then

Oh dear, you are one of threadeds sockpuppets just trolling us. Well it was fun whilst it lasted.

[Moscow Mule]

I never said it would.

Ok, state your position then:

Why do we need ID cards?

[minestrone]

Ok, state your position then:

Why do we need ID cards?

Why do we need passports?

[Sysman]

Private companies are to be given access to data on an all-encompassing database.

**** that

Also, the last item in section 2 of the Wikileak document:

Employers would play an important role in implementation of the Scheme.

I don't know about anyone else here, but there's at least one previous employer who I refuse point blank to have in control of my destiny in any way whatsoever.

[swamp]

f) re fixing it again once contractors have balles up the fix
d) sending it to an Indian company for re-designing and re-writing.

h) re-scoping the project when the Indian's balls it up
i) implementing new (Labour) strategic initiative "Connecting for Protection"

and I nearly forgot:

j) decommissioning the whole thing when the Tories get in power

[Moscow Mule]

Why do we need passports?

**** me, you are Hazel Blears.

To answer your question, to facilitate border control.

Are you saying we need another document just to facilitate border control, or are you saying you haven't got a good reason for ID cards and you just will STFU now?

[sunnysan]

Passport

Why do we need passports?

Technically we dont need a passport if we do not wish to pass beyond the border of your country of residence.

We can use a passport to establish our identity as well as other sources, drivers licence etc.

So we use a passport to identify ourselves at border posts, we use whatever else we have to identify ourselves within the country.

So the question still stands.... WTF do we need ID cards?

They are not replacing anything or offering me as an individual any conceivable benefit. Nor do I believe they will offer any other benefit as forgers will begin to forge id cards as well.

[expat]

Why do we need passports?

We don't. Governments want us to have them so that they can control our movements.

In the early part of the 20th century there was no passport as we know it. You could prepare for a journey by writing to the consulates or governments of countries you intended to travel to, asking for their approval to do so. They would then often write back to you approving your intention, and that would be a "passport". You would show it to any officials at the port of entry, who would stamp it as seen, or "visa" in Latin.

But you didn't need to do that, it was equally common just to go to, say, France or Italy without any preamble whatever.

Then the requirement for a specially-obtained government-approved identity document for travel was introduced by that ever-inventive organisation, the British Government, inventor of every boon from income tax to the dum-dum bullet. The idea took off and they all do it now.