[privacy] U.S. Senators Propose Repeal of National ID Card Law

[Drsolly]

On Fri, 15 Dec 2006, Dennis Henderson wrote:

>  In the US:
> 
> 
> 
> > Buy a beer
> >
> > I can't remember the last time I bought a beer and was asked to show an
> > ID. I'm pretty sure I never have been.  All I've ever been asked for is a
> > couple of pounds cash.
> 
> 
> 
> There are now state-by-state laws that require presentation of ID for
> alcohol purchases up to 27 years old. The legal limit is still 21, but
> Missouri will card people even if they look older.

But 21 year olds, are legally adults. Why can't they buy a beer?

I agree, it's wrong to allow children to buy things like alcohol and 
cigarettes, but aren't you going over the top there?
 
> Every time you purchase alcohol, the cashier enters your Birthday, or what
> they think is your Birthday in the register. My comments only apply to
> Missouri.
> > Buy Cigarettes
> >
> > I don't smoke, so I can't be sure, but I don't think I'd be asked for ID.
> 
> 
> Ditto above for cigs.
> 
> > Buy allergy medication
> 
> 
> Our soon-to-be-former-senator Talent introduced a bill that was passed
> requiring over the counter medications that contain pseudoephedrine to be
> logged and you have to register in a national database to do so. Its
> supposed to counter the cheap production of methamphetamine. Funny thing,
> tho, demand for sudafed actually went up in 2006.....

Again, I'm a bit baffled. Either something is a prescription drug only, in 
which case you have a doctor's prescription for it, and it's a controlled 
substance, or else it's in the same class as aspirin, and anyone can buy 
it without needing anything.  
 
> If it's a non-prescription drug, you just buy it in Boots, or any other
> > similar shop.
> 
> 
> These kind of meds are now called behind-the-counter, instead of over the
> counter.
> 
> 
> > Do anything financially
> >
> > Mostly, I use cash, and I don't get asked for ID. When I use a credit
> > card, I don't get asked for ID, unless you could the card itself.
> 
> 
> The US is moving very quickly towards a cashless society.
> 
> 
> 
> > Claim winnings
> >
> > I've never won anything, because I'm not a gambler.
> 
> 
> <eyes roll>

Snake eyes, presumably.

> 
> If all the above needs ID in your country, then you have a real problem!
> Which country is this?
> 
> U.S.A.
> 
> So to the Dude's comments, I too agree that a national ID card is not so far
> away in the US, given all the things that we already have to coff up ID for.

I'd look at this the other way round. You shouldn't be thinking in terms 
of a national ID card, you should be thinking in terms of rolling back the 
stuff you listed.

Having said that, our government keeps talking about a National ID card. 
Apparently, that would have stopped four British citizens from blowing 
themselves up on the underground in July 7, 2005. Or maybe it would have 
made it possible for us to work out who they were after it had happened, a 
bit more quickly?