I believe that "freedom" vs "security" is a false dichotomy. We do not have to give up one to have the other.
The trouble with our ID system in this country is that it is not thought through. Have you ever had a bank ask you for your social security number, as if it were some sort of password? The flaws in our security system come from using public usernames (like SSN) as passwords! These numbers can be found out by anyone with a little research. A national ID system would at least force people to stop doing this. If your ID# is written right on the card then banks and such would be forced to stop asking you the number to verify your identity. The number would obviously be a matter of public record. If we can keep the distinction between names and passwords then national ID is not a problem. I'm not saying that the national ID system will NOT be a threat to freedom, or that it won't be able to be used by criminals against us. Just that it need not be. We just have to design the system correctly. ===== Darryl Think Galactically -- Act Terrestrially __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Listen to your Yahoo! Mail messages from any phone. http://phone.yahoo.com
