Should everyone have to wear an identification number?

[petemcewan 27]

As Loob as pointed out, the majority of us have a NI (Known in some circles as a, "Personal Account Number") by which we can be identified.

The usual political argument put up against such measures, is that personal privacy and personal details have to be protected from an intrusive -and authoritarian- State. That kind of argument is maintained by some; even in spite of the fact that today's society is replete with people's personals details ,that are harvested by all kinds of government and non government agencies.

I'm personally against having to display in public, my NI number -or any other badge showing personal details.

Edited February 20, 2016 by petemcewan

[Berberis 10]

If everyone had a government issued ID number displayed on their person every time that they left the house, maybe on a tabard, or a patch, or a big badge would it eliminate wrongdoing?

 

No, but I do belive ID cards are a useful tool. Just Labour screwed up their introduction and made them a political football. iD cards are used across the EU without problem. In fact you can use them to cross borders also.

[Zamo 10]

No, but I do belive ID cards are a useful tool. Just Labour screwed up their introduction and made them a political football. iD cards are used across the EU without problem. In fact you can use them to cross borders also.

 

Civil disobedience by millions would render such a scheme useless and as such any attempt to impose it would be a catastrophic waste of time and money.

[Berberis 10]

Civil disobedience by millions would render such a scheme useless and as such any attempt to impose it would be a catastrophic waste of time and money.

 

It works elsewhere without issue. The problem we had was Labour tried to impose biometric information that was a step too far. The cost was also a huge factor and if they were given away free, like your NI card, I think we would have them in our wallets today.

[runningman1 12]

One of the traits of fascism is authoritarian government where the people are accountable to the ruling regime instead of the ruling regime being accountable to the people. I don't agree with Halibut on much but on this I do... any government forcing people to 'wear' an ID number would be behaving in a fascist way.

 

I am still curious... what problem(s) do people think the wearing of ID numbers would solve?

 

I disagree as it is not nationalistic, which is a key requirement of fascism. It is authoritarian, but not fascist.

 

I don't think the wearing of id numbers would solve anything.

[Zamo 10]

I disagree as it is not nationalistic, which is a key requirement of fascism. It is authoritarian, but not fascist.

 

I don't think the wearing of id numbers would solve anything.

 

It doesn't have to tick every box under the definition on fascism for it to be a fascist trait.

 

Anyway, it is all semantics. The main thing is that we agree that wearing ID numbers would not solve anything.

[Halibut 12]

It works elsewhere without issue. The problem we had was Labour tried to impose biometric information that was a step too far. The cost was also a huge factor and if they were given away free, like your NI card, I think we would have them in our wallets today.

 

So what? It wouldn't work here, there'd be massive civil disobedience.

[Eric Arthur 10]

No, but I do belive ID cards are a useful tool.

 

What useful task would you put your useful tool to work on? If there's a need for identification the wearing of a fully visible ID number would be even more effective at achieving those tasks.

[Cyclone 10]

One of the traits of fascism is authoritarian government where the people are accountable to the ruling regime instead of the ruling regime being accountable to the people. I don't agree with Halibut on much but on this I do... any government forcing people to 'wear' an ID number would be behaving in a fascist way.

 

I am still curious... what problem(s) do people think the wearing of ID numbers would solve?

 

It would make it much easier to figure out the identity of criminals.

CCTV would most likely catch the criminal behaviour and looking up the ID number would then be easy.

[Zamo 10]

It would make it much easier to figure out the identity of criminals.

CCTV would most likely catch the criminal behaviour and looking up the ID number would then be easy.

 

I think criminals would just hide the number.

[sutty27 10]

I think criminals would just hide the number.

 

And just like hiding a number plate they would be breaking the law so could face arrest even before they break another law.

[Eric Arthur 10]

And just like hiding a number plate they would be breaking the law so could face arrest even before they break another law.

 

How sweet. it would encourage them to obey the law even more if Stone Island made kop chic ID tabards.