ID card rollout begins

[Ian Batten]

On 26 Sep 08, at 0932, Nigel Metheringham wrote:

>
> On 25 Sep 2008, at 20:09, Peter Fairbrother wrote:
>
>> Am I correct in saying that the Tories and the Liberals have both  
>> pledged to abolish ID cards? For sure, Labour won't get in again.
>
>
> However politicians are liars.

What, all of them?

>
>
> I am sure there may be some plausible excuse as to why the roll out  
> can't be reversed, and in fact has to be extended and speeded up.   
> Or maybe they just don't care.

I am, of course, the last person on earth who should preach against  
cynicism.  But I think this degree of cynicism is unwarranted.

Firstly, why would the Tory party bother lying?  If they want to do ID  
Cards, the obvious thing is to say that they'll do them, or say  
nothing.  Either posture neutralises it as a political issue.  Given  
that ID cards enjoy considerable support amongst the Tory base, it's  
hard to see why a Tory front bench would come out in opposition to the  
scheme unless they meant it.  Why alienate the base in exchange for  
small numbers of Labour voters (ie those for whom ID Cards are enough  
of an issue in 2008 that they would vote Tory on that basis alone),  
when the Labour Party is haemorrhaging votes anyway?

Secondly, upon what possible basis do you claim that the Lib Dems are  
liars in this case?  An opposition to ID Cards fits perfectly with  
decades of policy, appeals to their base, and it's hard to see how any  
of their MPs would be revealed as secret stooges of the dark  
helicopter air force.

I must say, I'm growing weary of the endless ``all politicians are  
liars'' trope.  It's an excuse for inaction: ``Oh, I'd do something,  
but nothing makes any difference anyway''.  The Poll Tax was a done  
deal, until people started resisting it.   Key Escrow.  The EU  
Constitution.  Saying that nothing you can do makes a difference is an  
excuse for not doing anything.

ian