History Repeating Itself (Labour and ID cards edition)

[andrewducker]

I see we're back at the "Labour attempt to introduce a mandatory ID card" stage of history*.

My feeling last time, was that the main problem that they always have is that they *start* with the cards being mandatory.

If you start with "Here is a thing that makes your life much easier, that you can carry about if you like." then that will get you 85% of the way there. And then, once you have a voluntary ID card that's not causing any problems for anyone, and that 85% of the population is using to make their life easier, *then* you move in and say "The only people who don't carry an ID card are weirdos and troublemakers, and they're causing friction in the system, we could make it all run more smoothly if only they *had* to carry one."

But no, they always try to go instantly from "Nobody has an ID card." to "Everyone must carry one at all times." - which forms a coalition of all sorts of people from across the political spectrum, and ends up being far more politically costly to them than if they'd just boiled their frog slowly.

(None of which should be taken as me taking a position on ID cards. I'm just constantly bemused by their inability to get things done by trying to rush them through in the most authoritarian manner possible.)

*Younger readers may not remember the fuss in 2006 (repealed in 2011)

Comments

[cmcmck]

And it would be a certain way to screw over trans people as they'd insist on 'birth sex' to make sure we were issued with the wrong one.

[channelpenguin]

I don't see a need for gender on an ID card at all. Or a driving licence. Assuming there's a photo+ maybe biometrics.

[cmcmck]

Nor do I but it won't stop them using this as another attack line.

[channelpenguin]

Sadly, you are right, I'm sure they will miss no opportunity to use ID cards as another stick to beat you so with. I am sorry for everyone who is affected by that nonsense. It's all such a waste of time and energy and makes no actual sense at all. And it's strange how people fall for it. Even people you would not expect.