Security management Toolkit

Story: ID cards: Aviation workers being 'used politically'

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Further thoughts on ID cards and Government databases

Having read this extended dialogue between Thinkfeeldo and Andrew I tend, on balance, to come down strongly on the side of Andrew who, I think, expresses more accurately the dangers that could lie ahead if we cannot restrain the enthusiasm this extreme right wing reactionary government's desire for total control.

However I would like to add a few points of my own, not necessarily covered in your exchanges.

Firstly, a utopian and perfect world is like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, unattainable. We have to deal with reality. The reality is that these proposals are abusive whilst ultimately not achieving the objective of creating a better society for the future generations, our own children and grandchildren, that is.

Secondly, risk cannot be eliminated. The nature of risk and it's consequences can be altered, as demonstrated for example, by UK's 'adventure' in Iraq, perhaps emiliorated, as demonstrated by a reduction in smoking or better eating habits, but not eliminated. So the attempt to do so is not well founded.

Thirdly, unintended or unfortunate consequences such as the recent news concerning a lady in her later mid twenties denied a place at University nursing course following her CRB check, which exposed a foolishness when she was only sixteen years old and for which she received a conditional discharge. The new CRB check raises the serious issue of being branded for life, no possibility of rehabilitation, with all the consequences to society that carries with it.

I personally have experience of unfortunate consequences, very close to home, of the system protecting the guilty while failing to provide (obstructing) protection for the innocent (victim), something we read about quite often in the papers. There are already many unintended consequences in family life, where the state seeks to interpose and take responsibility, quite often with damaging consequences.

Fourthly, I think we have to question motive. Why exactly is the government so hell bent on pursuing these policies, for the stated reasons, however poorly reasoned, or a hidden agenda.

Fifthly, do not these proposals strike at the roots of democracy or, in fact, will they not be the beginning of the end of democracy? Scare mongering, I don't think so!

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