tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7734900.post114614555601914893..comments2024-03-28T07:18:06.376+00:00Comments on The Daily ACK: The ID card debateAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01200256129780465367noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7734900.post-1146261389166128542006-04-28T22:56:00.000+01:002006-04-28T22:56:00.000+01:00Being asked for his papers is one thing.Being aske...Being asked for his papers is one thing.<BR/>Being asked for your papers just because of the color of your skin is another one, which unfortunately happens more and more frequently in France.<BR/>I've never been asked for my papers whereas some of my friends are frequently asked for, as they appear to have a darker skin ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7734900.post-1146161917073663412006-04-27T19:18:00.000+01:002006-04-27T19:18:00.000+01:00yFor the record I think it is a bad idea, I for on...yFor the record I think it is a bad idea, I for one do not trust any government enough to responsibly use the power that a national id system would give them.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05384273358811140639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7734900.post-1146152128152351902006-04-27T16:35:00.000+01:002006-04-27T16:35:00.000+01:00Having mandantory ID cards is one thing (I might a...Having mandantory ID cards is one thing (I might add that in Germany with a long tradition of mandantory IDs ;-) I have never been asked for my ID except in cases where a policeman had stopped me for trafic violations where you have to show your driver's license in other countries as well if my information is right). <BR/><BR/>However not having voluntary ID cards is not convenient in my mind: Try opening a bank account in the UK when you just moved to that country, it's a Kafka style night mare:<BR/><BR/>Bank: We require two proofs of ID.<BR/><BR/>Me: Like?<BR/><BR/>Bank: Passport, ID Card, UK driver's license, utility bill, letter from bank, ...<BR/><BR/>Me: OK, here are my German passport and ID card.<BR/><BR/>Bank: They are not independent. You need something else.<BR/><BR/>Me: Here is my EU driver's license<BR/><BR/>Bank: Won't do, we need a UK one.<BR/><BR/>Me: Letter from my German bank?<BR/><BR/>Bank: That does not show your UK address.<BR/><BR/>Me: I just moved here. How am I supposed to have a utility bill? Especially, if I don't yet have a bank account to pay it from?<BR/><BR/>Bank: ???<BR/><BR/>Me (thinking): I am tempted to use the department colour laser printer to produce something that looks like a utility bill or a letter from bank xyz. In the end, those letters are just laser print out as well. But let's not go for that option, try to play it to their rules.<BR/><BR/>Me: What about a letter from my employer (Cambridge University)?<BR/><BR/>Bank: That might do.<BR/><BR/>OK, went to the department got that letter (bw laser printout BTW). <BR/><BR/>Bank: This is addressed to "To whom it may concern". This is not good enough. Get a letter "To the manager of Barclays Bank". <BR/><BR/>Did that. There was one more cycle of back and forth since they did not like the date on the second letter but in the end I got my account.<BR/><BR/>All this would be so much simpler if there were an _established_ way to prove your identity and an ID card is such a thing. And believe me, if I wanted to open an account to launder money, I would have no difficulties to forge a letter from a bank and a utilities bill which currently they would accept as two proofs of my ID.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06634377111195468947noreply@blogger.com