Comments on: ID Cards and the moral battlefield http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/11/23/moral-high-ground/ Everyone has a right to my opinions Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:11:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Matt Munro http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/11/23/moral-high-ground/#comment-114473 Matt Munro Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:35:02 +0000 http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/11/23/moral-high-ground/#comment-114473 It doesn't change the relationship it just formalises it. Given that our government is already the fondest in the world of filming and tracking it's citizens I can't believe anyone still thinks they "own" their identity. The liberal left made the introduction of ID cards inevitable and are now having a collective panic attack because they hold a mirror up their beloved overbearing, nannnying, interfering state. Looking forward to ID cards as it might finally make people realise that the state has long had an unhealthy interst in things that are none of its business. My fear is that realisation will come too late It doesn’t change the relationship it just formalises it. Given that our government is already the fondest in the world of filming and tracking it’s citizens I can’t believe anyone still thinks they “own” their identity.
The liberal left made the introduction of ID cards inevitable and are now having a collective panic attack because they hold a mirror up their beloved overbearing, nannnying, interfering state. Looking forward to ID cards as it might finally make people realise that the state has long had an unhealthy interst in things that are none of its business. My fear is that realisation will come too late

]]> By: Jherad http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/11/23/moral-high-ground/#comment-114163 Jherad Sat, 24 Nov 2007 18:11:31 +0000 http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/11/23/moral-high-ground/#comment-114163 Saw this up on Liberal Conspiracy, and then it was gone... ? Anyway, a central database of biometric data does, as you've said, change the relationship between citizen and state. A fundamental 'trust' is lost when trust is no longer required. "If you've nothing to hide, you've nothing to worry about" has long been the argument of those in favour. Privacy is a right however, not a privilege. When instead of not needing to 'hide' because you've done nothing wrong, you instead are kept under the spotlight of checks, searches and profiling - your government becomes your keeper. I don't believe we're becoming a police state. However, when that fundamental trust in the everyday citizen is lost - *that* is when you take your first step towards becoming one. Saw this up on Liberal Conspiracy, and then it was gone… ?

Anyway, a central database of biometric data does, as you’ve said, change the relationship between citizen and state. A fundamental ‘trust’ is lost when trust is no longer required.

“If you’ve nothing to hide, you’ve nothing to worry about” has long been the argument of those in favour. Privacy is a right however, not a privilege. When instead of not needing to ‘hide’ because you’ve done nothing wrong, you instead are kept under the spotlight of checks, searches and profiling - your government becomes your keeper.

I don’t believe we’re becoming a police state. However, when that fundamental trust in the everyday citizen is lost - *that* is when you take your first step towards becoming one.

]]> By: Longrider http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/11/23/moral-high-ground/#comment-114108 Longrider Sat, 24 Nov 2007 09:19:32 +0000 http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/11/23/moral-high-ground/#comment-114108 I have to say, that while I've discussed the pragmatic issues, it is the moral one that rankles most deeply with me. I own my identity and no one has the moral authority to take it from me; law or no law. I have to say, that while I’ve discussed the pragmatic issues, it is the moral one that rankles most deeply with me. I own my identity and no one has the moral authority to take it from me; law or no law.

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