Yes, I realise your concerns about privacy, government control, inconvenience, and what you might call the "road down the slippery slope" to the end of freedom of movement.
May I bring to your attention, however, that national ID cards are a fact of life in almost every country apart from the UK and US.
Countries in which national ID cards are used and compulsory (either by law or in practice) include France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, South Korea, etc.
Indeed, the majority of the world's democracies have national identity cards. Your paranoid fears have NOT materialised in these countries.
People in France can still go about their daily lives as they wish, without constant interference or surveillance by the government.
In Hong Kong, the ID card is a great convenience: it allows for 5-second automatic immigration clearance at the airport and other entry ponts. Besides, proving your identity at banks and such is a lot easier with national ID.
2007-03-01
21:51:29
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3 answers
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asked by
clemens hsieh
1
in
Law & Ethics