Here's looking at your ID
Trade-offs . But think of the far more prevalent opportunities for enhanced liberty. For example, New York lawyer Rhonda Gaynier might gladly trade her freedom from foolproof identification for freedom from being "groped by a stranger," an intimate intrusion that, the New York Times recently reported, she and many other female passengers have endured under new, tighter airport security rules. Many other innocent air travelers would probably rather have their eyeballs scanned than be bumped from flights because their names erroneously show up on a government "watch list." In fact, the American Civil Liberties Union has been busy filing suits on behalf of clients misidentified as terrorists. And then, of course, there is the huge everyday increase in freedom all of us would enjoy if we didn't have to keep ever closer guard over our credit cards, driver's licenses, and Social Security numbers.
And if, like many voters on November 2, you put protection from terrorism at the top of your issues list, you might want to consider that, despite all the attendant hassle and aggravation, watch lists and pat downs are easily evaded by anyone with access to stolen ID--and experts say that identity theft now claims 10 million victims a year. That's why the 9/11 commission report cites fraudulent travel documents as among the most important terrorist tools. "Don't kid yourself here," commission Vice Chairman Lee Hamilton said recently, "homeland security is expanding the role of government. I don't know how you get away from that."
In Hamilton's view, biometric identifiers on passports are a must. Still, lest he raise the hackles of the civil libertarians, he hastened to add, "note I didn't say a national identity card." Well, maybe he should just go ahead and say it. Maybe it's time to take a national ID card off the list of Great Unmentionables and enjoy the freedoms it could bring us.
advertisement
