A Centrist’s POV: National ID

It seems to me that my grasp of issues and my opinions reflect an average moderate independent voter pondering our complex world and challenging choices.

To me it is reasonable that each participant in our society be required to establish their identity in order to access any of the rights and benefits of our culture: voting, banking, social security, air travel, driving, education, crossing borders, medical care, purchasing guns, purchasing hazardous materials, technical training, visa holders…

It is fine with me that our society monitor all of these transactions to track down anyone who is a predator or is derelict on a legal obligation. I also believe that there needs to be careful oversight by elected representatives and courts to allow immediate recourse and, if justified, compensation for unnecessary damages and errors as in the case, for example, of identify theft.

I support a national ID card, but also prefer a national biometric database that aims to perfect identification and make it increasingly reliable. The fees associated with such ID card should be nominal and the processing convenient.