A demo and a pint - lovely
The more perceptive of you will have noticed a link on the right saying NO2ID. It will take you to the group campaigning against the possible introduction of ID cards in the UK. It is a worthy cause so click it, sign the petition, buy the t shirt, join in.
ID cards are one of those things that too many people think would be a 'good thing' without actually considering the wider implications. How for example would they prevent terrorism? Only one study has ever been done on a possible link between ID cards and terrorism and it concluded that ID cards would have minimal effect. Spain, I needn't remind, you has ID cards but they did nothing to prevent the 'al-Qaeda' attack there. Are those nasty terrorists intent on destroying all we hold dear going to line up for an ID card? Think on.
What about benefit fraud? The government's own figures show that of the estimated £2,000,000,000 (2 billion) annual benefit fraud only £50,000,000 is obtained by identity fraud. Still a lot of money but only 2.5% of the total. If they really wanted to beat benefit fraud there are more cost effective ways of doing it.
What information would the card contain? Your name, address, blood group, DNA profile? Well, Clause 1 of the ID card bill lists 50, yes FIFTY potential categories of information that will be required, though there is no limit. That's 50 bits of personal information held on each of us on a cumbersome, government database that we have to trust the authorities not to abuse.
Anyone trust Tony? Anyone trust any government to always act entirely in our best interests?
Ask the government how ID cards will beat crime, control illegal immigration or make us even a tiny bit safer and they simply cannot answer you.
Anyway... next Tuesday is the state opening of Parliament when Tony B and all the bastards elected last week after failing to get proper jobs, shuffle over to that archaic stain on our democracy the House of Lords to hear the queen outline what her government plans to subject us all to in the next 12 months. The ID card bill will feature. If you care about civil liberties, NO2ID are holding a demo to coincide with the event. All the nation's media will be there. The more people they see voicing their opposition to ID cards the better. If you can possibly make it assemble at about 10.45 by the statue of Boadicea at the corner of Westminster Bridge and the Embankment (there's always a burger van there so I'll probably be stood near that). Be there or be unable to complain when the state takes over your life.
ID cards are one of those things that too many people think would be a 'good thing' without actually considering the wider implications. How for example would they prevent terrorism? Only one study has ever been done on a possible link between ID cards and terrorism and it concluded that ID cards would have minimal effect. Spain, I needn't remind, you has ID cards but they did nothing to prevent the 'al-Qaeda' attack there. Are those nasty terrorists intent on destroying all we hold dear going to line up for an ID card? Think on.
What about benefit fraud? The government's own figures show that of the estimated £2,000,000,000 (2 billion) annual benefit fraud only £50,000,000 is obtained by identity fraud. Still a lot of money but only 2.5% of the total. If they really wanted to beat benefit fraud there are more cost effective ways of doing it.
What information would the card contain? Your name, address, blood group, DNA profile? Well, Clause 1 of the ID card bill lists 50, yes FIFTY potential categories of information that will be required, though there is no limit. That's 50 bits of personal information held on each of us on a cumbersome, government database that we have to trust the authorities not to abuse.
Anyone trust Tony? Anyone trust any government to always act entirely in our best interests?
Ask the government how ID cards will beat crime, control illegal immigration or make us even a tiny bit safer and they simply cannot answer you.
Anyway... next Tuesday is the state opening of Parliament when Tony B and all the bastards elected last week after failing to get proper jobs, shuffle over to that archaic stain on our democracy the House of Lords to hear the queen outline what her government plans to subject us all to in the next 12 months. The ID card bill will feature. If you care about civil liberties, NO2ID are holding a demo to coincide with the event. All the nation's media will be there. The more people they see voicing their opposition to ID cards the better. If you can possibly make it assemble at about 10.45 by the statue of Boadicea at the corner of Westminster Bridge and the Embankment (there's always a burger van there so I'll probably be stood near that). Be there or be unable to complain when the state takes over your life.
posted by phylos @ 17:54
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