anotherlimey

This is total rubbish fed by the Right who love the idea of a national ID/DNA database; you can already identify children by matching their photos up!

Only if their teeth have been knocked out and their face's too disfigured would you need a DNA test.

anotherlimey

Exactly, and they're easy enough to forge (etc..) as it is.

Pony

So long as it replaces existing cards. One card that contained your drivers record, carry permit, SS information, passport, and DNA too - if need be. If could even hold all your debit and credit card data, hospital records. All of these cards currently contain very little information, many just a few hundred characters on each card - combining them on to one card would make sense. One card with multiple access codes, so DPS can access just drivers record, hospitals your medical records, ATM's your financial institution records etc.
The card would have to be secure, and not available to be 'misused', ie insurance companies using your DNA to check for a disposition to diseases etc.
So in practise its a resounding NO, but in theory a big yes.

Silly Sod

What is wrong with ID cards? If you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear.

anotherlimey

I'm sure that's what the Nazis said to the Jews when they asked them to wear the Star of David...

OK, it's not that serious, but you get the idea...

TRPardoe

It's bad enough losing one credit card. Imagine losing this one !

Pony

Actually it would be far easier to cancel this one. Typically, I would imagine, people are likely to lose a wallet, and therefore lose more than one credit card at a time. This card could be cancelled and replaced with one phone call. Normally losing a wallet would require multiple calls to all the card issuers involved.
As a financial institution would no longer issue a credit card, replacements could be instant. You could simply transfer all your financial information to a backup card.
Losing a crad like this would not pose huge problems if it also contained biometric information. The information would be inaccessible to anyone but the rightful owners.

anabella

Most countries in Europe have this ID cards and, as someone already mentioned, here in the US they exist too; they are driving licenses. They actually make your life easier and in my opinion there aren't any disadvantages to having it. It would make the government's system in general work better. When I say this I am referring to things like voting.. The way it works at present is an incredible mess: anybody can go and vote for you.. I do mean ANYBODY, since no proof of ID is required. I have a friend from the Czech Republic that voted in the last general/national elections.. She was sent a valet home with somebody else's name on it, and just used it.. She has no British nationality and she is not allowed to vote in the national elections; only local and European.. When she went to vote the person in front of her was told that he wasn't allowed to vote, apparently "he" had already voted earlier in the day (remember, anybody that knows your name and address can vote for you)..

An ID card also makes traveling within Europe easier as it can replace your passport..

K, they would need to take your fingerprints to issue you with an ID card.. but who cares..

It is normal to fear the unknown.. but honestly ID cards are very useful..

Elvira

ID cards may indeed be useful - for those who want or need them. It is the COMPULSION I object to.

anabella

If you are not old/skilled enough to drive and you have never needed a passport then, since you have no ID at all, "you are nobody".. and simple things like banking would be a nightmare.. Making it compulsory only helps you..

Just Jenney

I don't know about in the UK, but here in the US (at least in my state) you do have the option of getting an ID card at the DMV, which looks similar to a drivers license but is just for ID purposes.

~ Jenney

anotherlimey

But why bother replacing a passport?

anotherlimey

Helps me?

How does carrying an ID card help me?

No one needs to know my ID on a daily basis.

anabella

Same here, I guess it's a national thing..

Those don't exist in the UK, so as I said, if you don't drive and you have never applied for a passport you have no ID at all.. they should have introduced ID's years ago, I don't understand how they've managed without them..

gruffbrown

I had to show my Passport before my Interview and my Medical, all a bit odd really.