Should the United States have a national ID card?

Question

I don't really care, but I'm tired of the Bush administration using terrorism to scare people. I'm more afraid of other Americans. What do you think?

Answer 1

We need some form of ID simply yo STOP businesses from having the excuse they didn't know they were ILLEGAL.

Answer 2

We already have 2 national IDs - the state driver's license and a social security card. Why do we need another one?
Any officer or agent can run the state ID on a national computer system (called NCIC) and immediately get a printout of your name, address, description and social security number (and soon - a copy of your photo). This info is available to every local, state, and national agency in the United States.
We also have a national fingerprint database, and once your fingerprints are on file- they stay in the database.
You cannot board a plane or cash a pay check without a photo ID.
If this is taken from the states and a national ID is created, it will create a huge bureaucracy that will cost millions of dollars (that we don't have).
What would be the point?

I am very reluctant to sacrifice liberty for security.

Answer 3

First President Bush is not using terrorism to scare you. Your memory is short lived. Remember 9-11. The U S does have a national ID CARD, it is your Drivers License our State ID. For foreigner it is the Green Card, and Naturalization ID.

Answer 4

Why are you more afraid of the Americans? A great example of our public school system, look at this poor 12 year old scared of his own country...

Regarding the cards though I believe it is what we will eventually have to do, not for anything terrorism related but because it would stop things such as identity theft which is rampant in the United states and almost everyone gets hits with it eventually, also if they had the DNA database established and had your DNA on each card than more crimes would be solved, also it would be harder for illegal immigrants (if not impossible) to use fake id's and fake socials. It has nothing to do with the war on terror.

Now have some pride for your country, we aren't perfect, but were the best country out there.

Answer 5

This is a very controversial subject.

A few of the PROS:
It could provide a way to determine eligibility for social services and other benefits for U.S. citizens.
It would go a long way in eliminating the hiring of illegal immigrants and welfare fraud by those who use falsified documents.
It could provide immediate identification at airports and other public venues.
It would make it very difficult to assume multiple identities.

And a few of the CONS:
It would necessarily need a bar code or electronic reader, and a central data pool.
The central data pool would be fertile hunting grounds for identity thieves and computer hackers.
It would be very accessible to many agencies and people.
Many think it would be an invasion of individual privacy.
The information could easily be misused.

There you go - take your stand.
In Maine, where I live, we are leading the charge against it.
In my opinion, that's just a little more information than Uncle Sam needs, not that our personal information is presently unavailable already. I just don't think all of my personal information should be available in a one stop shopping center like a central data bank.

Answer 6

We have a patchwork of ID's now, with very little protection of how they are used, hence all the identity theft problems.

Yes, I think the time is long past to have a national ID card, people are just kidding themselves if they don't think it already exists.

It should be formally mandated, and rules surrounding its use with heavy penalties for misuse should be put in place.
The Federal government leaning on the states to do it with drivers licences is just plain stupid. Those should be for driving, not for ID. There are two separate issues there.

-Dio

Answer 7

Well, the Real ID Act will be implemented by 2008. State IDs must conform with Federal standards(to be decided by Homeland Security). States will implement them or you won't be able to board a plane or enter a federal courthouse. It's already done. I think it's wrong but people and states will conform-many already have.,

Answer 8

I kind of think photo drivers licenses is enough. Maybe a little more care should be taken when officals give them out though.

Answer 9

I dont think so. I dont like the govt tightening its grip this much. If we made it hard for non-citizens, like illegal immigrants, to obtain a state ID, then it wouldnt be a problem.

Answer 10

That would be a great idea. I mean that way we would be able to keep track of everyone including criminals. It would also make it easier for the government.