Tony Blair Reveals the Direction of Biometric ID's

Tony Blair has released an email responding to opponents of biometric national identification cards. He also shows that he will not listen to citizens' concerns---very much like our leaders in the US: Republican or Democrat.

Here are some revealing comments by the Prime Minister, interspersed with thoughts/questions:

...the real benefits for our country and its citizens from ID cards and the National Identity Register, which will contain less information on individuals than the data collected by the average store card, should be delivered for a cost of around £3 a year over its ten-year life.

DO STORE CARDS IN ENGLAND CARRY MORE INFORMATION THAN FINGERPRINTS?

Nor is Britain alone in believing that biometrics offer a massive opportunity to secure our identities. Firms across the world are already using fingerprint or iris recognition for their staff. France, Italy and Spain are among other European countries already planning to add biometrics to their ID cards. Over 50 countries across the world are developing biometric passports, and all EU countries are proposing to include fingerprint biometrics on their passports.

TRANSLATION: Our society will no longer be a standard-bearer for freedom. It is time to "join the crowd."

If national ID cards do help us counter crime and terrorism, it is, of course, the law-abiding majority who will benefit and whose own liberties will be protected.

HIDDEN ASSUMPTION: Those who resist the idea of national id cards are not going to be considered "law abiding" in their disposition. We now abandon the presumption of innocence. We are guilty until properly identified.

A national ID card system, for example, will prevent the need, as now, to take a whole range of documents to establish our identity. Over time, they will also help improve access to services.

TOTALITARIAN BUT CONVENIENT = GOOD. With planned and open-ended mission-creep.

As I have said, it is clear that if we want to travel abroad, we will soon have no choice but to have a biometric passport.

IT IS SO BECAUSE I SAY IT IS SO: WE MUST DO THE STUPID. IT IS INEVITABLE. RESISTANCE IS FUTILE.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Blair

When US politicians tell you biometric id cards are "simply" to fight terror and illegal immigration, realize that they are lying.

It's that simple.

***UPDATE (2/21/07)***
Read one UK Conservative's response to Mr. Blair.