Are National ID Cards a Good Idea?

Dracophile asks: "The Sydney Morning Herald recently ran a front-page article about a 'smart card' to access government services and that it would double as a national identity card. The article points out that the current Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, who fiercely opposed from opposition the Australia Card idea in 1985, is now a supporter. The article goes on to say that about 100 nations have some form of ID card. Is your country one of them? What concerns were raised? How were they addressed? Have welfare fraud and other identity-related crimes decreased? Have National ID cards improved or deteriorated conditions where you live?"

One word:

[rune2]

No

"This will go down on your permanent record"

[mad.frog]

I guess that phrase will have new meaning...

Re:Absolutely not

[Ozymand E. Us]

Homersexuals
Doh! Doh! Doh baby!

Re:Absolutely not

[ModemRat]

FINALLY, a Nazi analogy. I was waiting for someone to bring this debate to a resonable level.

Re:Absolutely not

[Anonymous Coward]

That was the 55 mile an hour limit, kid.

Re:Yes

[Anonymous Coward]

I personally don't care if someone impersonates my identity and takes all my debt.

Re:Absolutely not

[m00j]

"either states his name or communicates it to the officer by other means" I choose to communicate it through interperative dance!

Re:FedEx

[jrockway]

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Re:Absolutely not

[Shelled]

Point taken. This is, after all, Slashdot and 'corrections' needn't be correct themselves if expressed in the appropriate tone.