The political class never tire of ways to try to keep citizens under control.
Now Mr. Fred Mitchell (PLP), Minister of Foreign Affairs & Immigration, former campaigner for individual rights is the latest politico to call for a National ID Card. The Tribune, December 24, 2013.
I'm reminded of a Sinclair Lewis quote from his, It Can't Happen Here; “Every man is a king so long as he has someone to look down on.”
Like his cohort a while back, Mr. Mitchell claims that people need a "document which says you have a right to be here" to justify even more intrusiveness by the state.
Of course there is a myriad of documents and approvals that people have to confirm they're Bahamian or have the the right to live or work here, but in their wisdom, we need to be harried by yet another bureaucracy.
The idea should be to make the many branches of government already in place to deal with these matters work, not add yet another layer of time wasting bureaucracy.
As recent history has shown us in the United States the more power states have to monitor their citizens, the more snooping on privacy governments do. Forgetting their role is to prevent harm, not cause it.
The numbering and monitoring of people like this was used to great effect by command and control governments throughout history and we must remain vigilant and be wary of motive here.
We should say NO to a National ID Card!
Here we go again,the idiots are concentrating on nonsense instead of the real problems.The more bureaucracy the less we all get done.
Their most often repeated idiocy, is the concept that the existing laws do not work, so they need more rules, laws and powers.
It is they that do not work, or do their duty!
It is they who have failed the system, the law, the constitution.
Incompetency personified!
Just another dumb idea that will amount to absolutely nothing.. We have National Insurance cards, Voter Registration cards, Drivers Licenses and Passports.. If this is all they can come up with to solve our pressing immigration problems, then the country is in serious trouble.. Sadly, it is now becoming an embarrassment to admit that you are a Bahamian and now the government wants you to carry a card to prove your embarrassment.. Stupid, stupider and stupidest seems to be the three dictates and underlying methodologies of how government policy is made.. We don’t know whether we should laugh or cry.. Cry for your country and have a laugh at the useless politicians that are destroying our nation..
I have been ashamed to show mine for some time now & its getting worse by the day.Maybe Mr.Mitchell thinks nonsense talk like that will make people forget about the stupid country killing VAT.Well I’m afraid not Mr.Mitchell.
Two things amaze me about this story.
First, as with most of our Politicians, Mr Mitchell seems unable to maintain a consistent philosophical stance even when the contradictory nature of his position stares him in the face. National ID cards are generally regarded as a right-wing/conservative obsession, on authoritarian agendas. Isn’t Mr Mitchell our Human Rights champion?
Second, I am deeply surprised that the freedom stalwarts haven’t mobilised to attack this obvious and serious threat to personal freedoms.
What do these two things say about the state of our society?
My friend, your accusation that right-wing/conservatives are obsessed with National ID cards is a misrepresentation of facts at best.. What is being called for are voter ID cards with a verifiable photograph attached.. This is to aid in the prevention of the massive voter fraud of illegal voting that takes place in United States elections.. To establish a national identification card would be highly political and bureaucratic, a complete waste of money and would be opposed by most Americans both on the left and right.. Some time ago I read a commentary in the “Economist” about a National ID system, but if my memory serves correct it was addressing terrorism and illegal immigration in the United Kingdom and mistakenly cited photo ID voter identification for a national identification card in the United States..
Every America today that drives a car has a photo ID drivers license in their possession most of which are verified according to the National Security Administration requirements.. These standards are very strict, so strict that even the President’s documentation would be open to question.. In our Bahamas we have the same photo ID Drivers Licenses as in the United States, but we wisely go one step farther using photo ID Voter Registration cards, the latter being used to limit voter fraud.. The United States should take a page from the Bahamas when it come to voter registration and the prevention of voter fraud..
MP Mitchell must still be under the influence of his recent trip to South Africa. Was he remembering the situation there, when black South Africans always had to have their IDs/Papers with them and were only allowed in certain areas? Next ‘suggestion’ will be for every Bahamian and legal resident to be tattooed with a number like in WWII Germany.
My Cyber friend, ONE story should do the trick …:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8175139.stm
Thanks S3S for the BBC flyer.. Glad to know that the Brits will soon be able to look into their wallets, check their government-issued, National ID Card and at last find out who they really are.. This is just another example which reflects the level of stupidity that we have come to expect from governments.. National ID cards are a foolish idea which really serves no practical purpose..
For Bahamians such as us, when we travel overseas many of us carry five to six authorized forms of personal photo identification.. When in residence, I carry on my person my drivers license, National Insurance card and a credit card.. All three cards have photos to provide my identification.. The last thing in the world Bahamians need is another government-issued ID card..
The real issue with photo ID cards is the prevention of voter fraud which has become commonplace during US elections.. The use of a standard photo ID voters card would do much to eliminate voter fraud..
This is NOT a right-wing, conservative issue as you have charged, but a principled issue of honesty and voter integrity.. To say photo ID cards are discriminatory against minorities and the poor is just political BS.. The real issue and threat is that millions of ILLEGAL aliens cannot legally register to vote despite the best efforts of the left-wing to get them registered.. Today election fraud is epidemic in the United States as elections are open to the highest bidder and are subject to massive voter fraud.. There is little belief in the integrity of the American election process despite the bet efforts to assure the democratic principle of “One man, one vote”..
“Your Papers Please” followed by
“Your Papers are not in order…….”
(pulled out of your car, thrown into an unmarked van,
disappeared….)
Not unfathomable, still occurs around the world.
A passive and compliant Civil Society is already present.
Take one look at the list of countries that have compulsory National ID Cards:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_identity_card_policies_by_country
Then ask yourself, how many of these are paragons of democracy and advocates of human rights?
Then look especially and North Korea’s entry
Case closed!
Just because over a 140 countries have implemented VAT policies, it does not make it right as most of those countries are far more worst off today than they were before VAT.. For the Bahamas to play follow the IMF leader down the yellow brick road will lead only to further economic decline and a crippling of the private sector..
As is the case with National ID Cards what other countries elect do is their business and not necessarily a constructive solution to our immigration problems.. Want to ponder Human Rights in the Bahamas, check out the hell hole conditions at the Detention Center.. As for democracy, corruption and crony capitalism is becoming the order of the day.. As governance breaks down and law and order subsides, authoritarian rule becomes more apparent.. More imposed useless bureaucratic regulations will not solve the problem for it only will become just another problem..
Isn’t it about time that the United States requires its citizens and residents, both legal and illegal, to carry National ID cards?? But then that might violate some special interest group’s rights or even worst offend someone’s beliefs in privacy.. On the other hand, it would create fail proof method of identification when buying alcoholic beverages at the local bar or pub.. I guess even the most foolish of ideas can have some useful purpose and positive outcome..