Upon recommendation from the Sept. 11th commission, the US Congress has seen fit to establish something of a National ID Card system. While the card won’t be issued at a federal level, it will require all the information including the ID Number to be standardized across the board.
Full StoryCongress Close to Establishing Rules for Driver’s Licenses
By MATTHEW L. WALD, New York Times
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 - Following a recommendation of the Sept. 11 commission, the House and Senate are moving toward setting rules for the states that would standardize the documentation required to obtain a driver’s license, and the data the license would have to contain.Critics say the plan would create a national identification card. But advocates say it would make it harder for terrorists to operate, as well as reduce the highway death toll by helping states identify applicants whose licenses had been revoked in other states.
The Senate version of the intelligence bill includes an amendment, passed by unanimous consent on Oct. 1, that would let the secretary of homeland security decide what documents a state would have to require before issuing a driver’s license, and would also specify the data that the license would have to include for it to meet federal standards. The secretary could require the license to include fingerprints or eye prints. The provision would allow the Homeland Security Department to require use of the license, or an equivalent card issued by motor vehicle bureaus to non-drivers for identification purposes, for access to planes, trains and other modes of transportation.
The bill does not give the department the authority to force the states to meet the federal standards, but it would create enormous pressure on them to do so. After a transition period, the department could decide to accept only licenses issued under the rules as identification at airports.
The House’s version of the intelligence bill, passed Friday, would require the states to keep all driver’s license information in a linked database, for quick access. It also calls for “an integrated network of screening points that includes the nation’s border security system, transportation system and critical infrastructure facilities that the secretary determines need to be protected against terrorist attack.”
Ah, the joys of living in a fear based society. As you can see, advocates are already touting fine examples of the law’s implementation outside the scope of the intended usage.
For some reason the first thing that came into my mind when I read this was my unpaid parking ticket in New Jersey.
First off, you don’t have a Gravatar ID. Gravatar doesn’t generate or assign IDs itself, it merely cross-references your email address to what you have on file with Gravatar and provides an icon if it matches.
Secondly, you don’t have to have an SEB-ID. If the fact that it’s not a global blog ID bothers you then I can always delete the account if you prefer without losing any ability to post comments.
Thirdly, do you really want SEB to have access to the same user authentication system used by your bank or credit union? While I pride myself on my honesty I’m sure there are plenty of less scrupulous bloggers out there who would find a way to take advantage of such a situation.
Fourthly, you fail to say why having separate IDs is a bad thing. What if I don’t trust the national global authentication system as being able to accurately identify that you are whom you claim to be?
Actually, no, I don’t see. Nothing in your comment demonstrates why a national ID, for blogging or otherwise, would be either useful or good outside of the convenience factor. Which could end up being highly inconvenient if your ID was stolen.
You’ve now convinced me that this would be the absolute worst thing imaginable. Good job.