The ID card issue that has been brewing, and recently is showing signs of coming to a boil, is one of the most important issues we face. Far more insidious than Clipper, if a universal "smart card" is injected into all sorts of transactions and interactions. You all know what I mean: one's cash/ATM card is issued by the government (with a countersign by the bank), health card, passport, etc. But here I want to refute Duncan's refutation, so I will quote highly selectively: ...

Mandatory carry not (yet) proposed. Also Ontario Driver's License should suffice. ... How to handle tourists/Canadians/etc. ... Already in the Health Security Act. Doesn't *prevent* treatment just records it. You can claim to be an illegal alien, etc. ... Doesn't cover driver's licenses issued by any other nations which are also legal for domestic driving (even by US citizens who are 'non-residents'). ... Books? Doubtfull. Again what about tourists.

Etc. Many of Duncan's refutations boil down to "What about tourists?" The answer for the Feds is simple: temporary ID cards for tourists. This has several aspects, and solves (for them) several pressing problems: 1. Tourists entering the U.S. (and ditto for what other countries do) are issued a temporary ID card at Customs. ("What about Canadian and Mexican entry points?" They already stop drivers, albeit briefly, and a $20 entry fee for non-citizens would cover quick generation of a temporary ID, complete with photo, hologram, barcode, all the usual junk.) 2. This temporary ID acts as a time-valued visa, good for 3 months, 6 months, "Green Card," etc. It times out, either locally (chip--not such a great idea, technically) or in a data base (much more probably, for security reasons, speeds of networks, etc. reasons). 3. The card acts essentially like the one citizen-units would receive, perhaps not fully authorizing certain things. Comment: It is not too much "work" to generate such a temporary ID, especially with a "reasonable" entry fee. Nor would it slow down border crossings in a way that would threaten massive complainings...most border crossers would already have the cards, or would with time have them. Those that don't, would be shunted aside as the crossings, as part of Customs entry, to be photographed, fingerprinted, etc. The anti-terrorism folks will like this, so will Immigration and Naturalization, etc. The only complainers--aside from ideological opponents like us--will be those intending to overstay their visas (which this will help to stop--the card will cease to be valid and the holder will find himself cut off from ATM machines, employment, and schools for his children (no big deal, I hear Duncan say, but consider the implications for most people, the visibility of "truant" children, the day-care issues, etc....for most immigrant families, this would be a devastating economic blow, and would likely "out" them). 4. Employers, even for casual work, would be required to check these cards, possibly even "work credentials" would have to be negotiated jointly at some office. (I haven't thought too much about the details, but I'm beginning to. And the possibilities are diabolically clever. Just as "permits" are so often necessary in these Beknighted States, so too could such mutually arranged work permits be required. Solves the "Zoe Baird" problem and helps to surface the underground economy. Electronic "point of sale" terminals, similar to cash machines, could make this "painless." Even if cash is not outlawed--a different, and even more controversial topic--such "work permits" could be enforced in various way. Frankly, they already _are_. For example, here in California I would be happy to pay some Mexicans to do yard work...but I avoid this because of reports of stings, arrests, prosecutions, and heavy fines. (The Beknighted States, as not all of you may be aware of, operates on the principle of Deep Pockets Terror: those with the money are soaked with heavy fines and threats of civil forfeiture. The tax authorities then get involved, collecting back taxes the employer was supposed to withold (funny, I thought it was my leaf-raker Juan's job to settle up with the IRS?), assessing fines and collection fees, and so on. Others, like Social Security, also get into the act.) Well, this is getting too long, so I'll close. I basically agree with Duncan's noble sentiments. I just don't think it likely that the "What about the tourists?" argument will stop the national ID juggernaut once it begins to move. And other countries, already enamored of tight controls, passports (I had to surrender my passport at many hotels in Europe...multiple purposes for this, of course)., etc., will likely play ball with the U.S. on such an ID card. Thanks to Duncan for giving me a place from which to launch this essay. And everyone go out and read or reread Brunner's "The Shockwave Rider." --Tim May -- .......................................................................... Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, tcmay@netcom.com | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero 408-688-5409 | knowledge, reputations, information markets, W.A.S.T.E.: Aptos, CA | black markets, collapse of governments. Higher Power: 2^859433 | Public Key: PGP and MailSafe available. "National borders are just speed bumps on the information superhighway."