The case against ID cards

A Swedish friend who lived here for over 20 years and then returned to Sweden, had to have a new govt. ID number issued before she could do a lot of things, inc. IIRC getting a local mobile phone contract. It took some time, which she did find frustrating, but IIRC she needed only to know the number, not produce a card. (Could be wrong.)

She’d managed to buy a flat without this, but v likely did that using her U.K. passport - she’d taken U.K. citizenship some years previously.

Talking of which (buying property as a non-national) some half-Danish chap dh met at one of his professional do’s recently, told him that foreigners aren’t allowed to buy property in Denmark.
Reason being (so he said) was that much of their seaside or near-coastal property would quickly be hoovered up by, ahem, some of their nearest neighbours, , but they can’t say that, so it’s a blanket ‘non Danish’ ban instead.

It wouldn't concern me having to have an identity card, and as for ID at polling stations, most people turn up with their polling cards and are quite disconcerted when they don't have to show them. It is the postal vote which needs checking.

Greyduster

^I expect they'll see nothing wrong with having to wear those nice yellow stars, either^.
Oh for goodness sake!🤦‍♀️ Don’t let’s entirely lose touch with reality!!

I expect a whole load of Germans were saying that in the 1930s.

I never cease to be amazed by people's wholehearted embrace of unnecessary restrictions of their freedoms.

It's bad enough to have voter ID imposed on us for purely repressive and ideological reasons. ID cards are a stepmtoo far, much too far.

MaizieD

Greyduster

I expect they'll see nothing wrong with having to wear those nice yellow stars, either.
Oh for goodness sake!🤦‍♀️ Don’t let’s entirely lose touch with reality!!

I expect a whole load of Germans were saying that in the 1930s.

I never cease to be amazed by people's wholehearted embrace of unnecessary restrictions of their freedoms.

It's bad enough to have voter ID imposed on us for purely repressive and ideological reasons. ID cards are a stepmtoo far, much too far.

Why would carrying an ID card restrict your freedoms?

And we’ve learned absolutely nothing since then, Maisie? I don’t think so! How do those of you who are railing against this, and so much other stuff, manage to live your life from day to day with all these conspiracy theories taking up spaces in your heads?

GrannyGravy13

MaizieD

Greyduster

I expect they'll see nothing wrong with having to wear those nice yellow stars, either.
Oh for goodness sake!🤦‍♀️ Don’t let’s entirely lose touch with reality!!

I expect a whole load of Germans were saying that in the 1930s.

I never cease to be amazed by people's wholehearted embrace of unnecessary restrictions of their freedoms.

It's bad enough to have voter ID imposed on us for purely repressive and ideological reasons. ID cards are a stepmtoo far, much too far.

Why would carrying an ID card restrict your freedoms?

Exactly. How does carrying an ID card restrict your freedom? As I said before when I had to carry one no one ever asked to see it.

Too many people watching doomongering films on here.
It really isn't like that to have an ID card. Ridiculous to
fear being stopped in the street and being asked for your ID
yes it can happen , but no it doesn't

Actuallt I carry 2 ID cards. One is a driving license with photo and the other is my Social Security Medical Card with photo,
a Gendarme would be happy with either

My son lives abroad, he is very happy to carry his ID card, he uses it to fly rather than his passport, he also uses it when accessing medical treatment.

Neither of those is an ID card.

So I'm inclined to believe you, along with quite a few others, have no idea what we're talking about

I can’t see why anyone would object to voter ID- they ask your name and address and tick you off- this could all be done more efficiently and stop people nipping over to another polling station and give someone else’s name and address( it has been known) .
I think the experiences of those who’ve lived in countries with ID currently haven’t had bad experiences.

Driving license covid vaccination cards bus pass debit card tells my life story practically. The big give away for my ID is store cards easily identifies me as a shopaholic.

volver

Neither of those is an ID card.

So I'm inclined to believe you, along with quite a few others, have no idea what we're talking about

It's OK, volver, they've nothing to hide...

Everyone else does it so there's clearly nothing to worry about...

There are times when I'm really glad I'm quite old and won't be around much longer...

One of the very few good things that Cameron did was getting rid of the ID cards idea

volver

Neither of those is an ID card.

So I'm inclined to believe you, along with quite a few others, have no idea what we're talking about

So your argument is those who don't agree with you "have no idea" what is being discussed!

People are already having chips inserted under their skin so that they can unlock things by waving their hands near the lock.

Maybe if we go along with this it could open the door to being microchipped like pets have to be now

I agree with Volver's main argument. Having to compulsorily carry ID is not something I want to have to do either.

I think the subject has come up again at the moment because of the migrant problem. I think the idea is that if they had ID cards those with failed visa or asylum applications could be identified and deported more efficiently.

Which takes us into a whole nother subject, though it is connected.

Beckett

volver

Neither of those is an ID card.

So I'm inclined to believe you, along with quite a few others, have no idea what we're talking about

So your argument is those who don't agree with you "have no idea" what is being discussed!

No Beckett, my argument is that someone who thinks a driving licence is the same as a compulsory ID card clearly doesn't understand the issue.

Perhaps you can go and have a look at the other thread where this is being discussed and have a word with the person who said that being an "ID denier" means I'm "aligning myself with the dishonest"?

There is very little evidence of voter fraud in the UK and the Tory scheme to require voter ID is to reduce voting by disadvantaged groups more likely to vote Labour. I don't see any advantage to the individual from ID cards.

I think it was Tony Blair who first mooted (pushed even, as I believe he is still doing) the idea of ID cards. It may not have been in connection with voting rights. I can't remember.

I suppose if having an ID card automatically registered you to vote that might help get more people doing it

I suspect one'd still have to be on the electoral register, VSky.

Grantanow

There is very little evidence of voter fraud in the UK and the Tory scheme to require voter ID is to reduce voting by disadvantaged groups more likely to vote Labour. I don't see any advantage to the individual from ID cards.

There might be one, if people, including the disadvantaged, had an ID card and found it easier to vote.

I'm always disappointed in how many young people don't vote

I think almost half of the member states of the EU have compulsory ID cards - I haven't read of people being regularly stopped and asked for ID in those countries or of demonstrations against them - seems those who have experience of having to carry them do not object.