Debate on ID cards

We asked:- Would ID cards further marginalise vulnerable
people?

These are some of the comments we received:

“ID cards could benefit some vulnerable people. My aunt is
79 and she has learning difficulties. She is often treated as a
non-person because she has none of the ‘usual’ forms of ID, such as
passport, driving licence or bills (she lives in a care home).

It drives my mother mad as she tries to help my aunt manage her
affairs. An ID card would help a lot.”

Kevin Lowe
Assistant Director Training and Development
Trust for the Study of Adolescence (TSA)

“It’s not just that they are a waste of money and won’t
stop terrorism or illegal immigration, personally, I am concerned
that ID cards will give public servants like the police sweeping
powers which they will use and abuse (just like ASBOs).

For example, someone could be stopped in the street and asked to
produce their ID card by the police. Once it has been swiped and
they find out the person has a history of mental health problems,
they could say: “He’s a nutter, best lock him up”.

Even if they don’t produce their ID card on the street, they
would still have to go to their local police station in the next
five days to show it. This will fuel people with paranoia type
problems anxieties (and how many terrorists will bother to show up
with their ID cards in 5 days time? 0 that’s how many).

Also how compulsory is non-compulsory? If you want to go abroad,
vote or access public services then you’ll need a card. The New
Labour ID card: Compulsory in all but name.  In fact there are so
many things that are bad about this scheme, I
don’t know where to start!”
   
Derek Brinck-Johnsen

“No, they would not marginalise vulnerable people. They have
been used throughout parts of Europe and we need to move from the
‘marginalisation’ view point and think about the wider
advantages of easy access and inclusion.”
 
Armrget

“Of course they would further marginalise vulnerable people.
They would reveal, with a quick swipe, that the guy in the suit is
unemployed from an inner city area, that the young single mum is on
benefits, that the person who claims to be 64 to do some work to
supplement his meagre pension, is in fact 65! It is also a hidden
tax, we are being forced to pay for it!

Any forms of this high level of social control must be resisted,
we are stepping on dangerous ground.

Paul Morris
Bridlington