Why ID Cards are pointless

How are we to establish our true identities in order to get an ID card? So if we need to prove who we are to get a card why do we need the card?

So the point of the ID card isn't identity as this can be done via other means, including driving licence or passport. It seems the point of the ID card is to facilitate data sharing between government departments. But many government departments already do this. We also have a central national ID number - the national insurance number. Why can't they share data already. Is it incompetence?

It seems about the only people who can't are the police who 10+ years after Dunblane are still struggling to set up a central firearms register where they can all share information.

"Instead of wasting hundreds of millions of pounds on compulsory ID cards as the Tory Right demand, let that money provide thousands more police officers on the beat in our local communities"

These are the words of Tony Blair, in a passionate speech against Identity Cards to the 1995 Labour party conference in Brighton. Ten years later and he not only wants an ID card himself, but wants us all scanned, fingerprinted and registered on the largest biometric database in the world.

The Identity Card Bill allows for the introduction of compulsory Identity Cards for all. Though it will be compulsory, we will have to pay for the card, and pay every time our details change, such as a change in address. If we dont keep the authorities informed of such changes, we will be fined.

ID Cards wont tackle identity fraud, crime or any of the high-profile problems the Government has claimed they will address. Charles Clarke has said that he doubted that ID cards would have protected London from the terrorist attack of July 7th.

They will be a huge waste of money (both in terms of public tax and straight from our pockets). They will change our society and the way we live, forever.