It sounds entirely like the goverment tackling one of the symptoms rather than the problem (again)... imo.
Problem- we are developing an increasing number of obnoxious little swine in our society.
Solution- better education? Vocational qualifications? Cutting benefits for those who cause antisocial behaviour?
Er no.
We'll ban what they wear.
Hence they will just find some other identity masking apparel which will become the next fashion, I think.
Snowcat wrote:
Roll on the national identity cards, I say. If you`ve nothing to hide, you shouldn`t have a problem with it.
I have a problem with it on several counts-
a. It assumes I *DO* have something to hide and therefore must be made to prove otherwise, i.e. guilty until proven innocent.
b. I do not trust our government to implement security enough to make theft of my personal data sufficiently difficult
c. I object to having such unnecessary levels of personal data on such an easily thievable item (proposed are biometric measurements, retina scans, fingerprints) when all you need is a clear photograph, name address and brief description imo.
d. Copying information stored on the card is likely to fall a long way short of impossible, similarly altering it is also quite probably simple for those with sufficient resources (i.e. organised criminals). Which counters the big argument about having an electronic card rather than a standard card (like the photoID driving licence).
e. ID cards are proposed as a means for tackling illegal working, which the French countered effectively with work permits.
f. I am already monitored by the government (as are we all) since they have the powers to read our emails, check our browsing habbits, read our bank statements, observe our criminal records (if any) gain access to our hospital records, follow us just about everywhere on CCTV and now they want to enhance that further by having a convenient chip that will record whenever (presumably) we leave the country [ID cards are proposed to be introduced in new passports this Summer, which I will have to get being a frequent traveller]. And yet still we apparently live in an unsafe world full of terrorists, illegal immigrants and thugs in hoodies which the government need even more powers to tackle.
The analogy about bad workmen and their tools springs to mind...
:P
Reminds me of my Grandad, he has the same attitude.