Donkeys and Elephants and Delegates,oh my!
Check out the most popular
Let's Solve Our National Identity Crisis
itmanagement.earthweb.com — The public mistrusts the idea of a national biometric ID card system over concerns of fraud and freedom. Because we don't develop a comprehensive, protected system, we're ending up with a third-rate, insecure de facto one based on social security cards and government agencies collecting the data without our knowledge or permission.
mikelgan- 109 diggs
- digg it
- wanderlander, on 07/03/2008, -0/+6Despite the good points in the article, I still would have to disagree with the idea of a biometric ID card, on grounds that could be considered Orwellian (although I think it's pretty obvious that Huxley was more accurate!). One of my biggest concerns is that we're going to trust our government with setting this up and protecting it, and I have several problems with that. One is that our government has proven itself to be full of corruption time and again - arguably the nature of the beast when humans are involved. But along with that is the fact that they see the individual as dispensable for the greater good, which is redefined according to whatever suits their particular needs at the time. Also, in a time when many are pushing for privatization because the government has a tendency to screw everything up, a national ID, esp biometric, just doesn't seem doable.
- jammag, on 07/03/2008, -0/+4First of all, kudos to the commenter above, Wanderlander, for comparing Orwell and Huxley. Whew -- you actually paid attention in high school.
About a national ID system: we Americans would never truly stand for a fully organized system. There's an essential Wild West chaos inherent in the U.S. ethos. Don't inspect us or detect us, don't constrain us or tax us or control us or ask us to give up our SUVs, our sugary drinks, or our credit cards. Live free or die. We're going to the Moon, baby, and we're born to be wild. On the other hand, we want government to protect us and offer advanced major services, including (some day) healthcare. So, in sum, we're a crazy, contradicted bunch.
As the author said, Happy Independence Day! - ryanlive, on 07/03/2008, -0/+3Americans have a deep and I think organic distrust for government. And rightfully so.
- Fangsinmybeard, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2An single origin ID is very vulnerable. So long as humans interface with a single origin system, there will be ways of hacking or cheating the system. Facial recognition has it's flaws, so does fingerprint. To have a national ID means to give up your unique identity, to an abstract system that can never be foolproof.
- leodavinci, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1The federal government has way too much power already, letting them handle a national ID card would just let them tie everything together even more.
The Digg Toolbar for Firefox lets you Digg, submit content, and keep track of Digg even when you're not on the Digg site. Download the official 
© Digg Inc. 2008 —
Content posted by