Who Here Will Accept A Real ID Card???, page 2

While I share extremely deep reservations with respect to the new ID standard, at this time I am still willing to "go along with the program." If, however, there is ever a time when a single RFID card is mandated for multiple purposes - i.e. identification, social security, medical records, debit, and retail "club" cards - I will refuse it. Plurality of information sources and redundancy are good things when it comes to personal data, in my opinion. Putting everything in a single card or chip would not, in my opinion, serve my best interests. Furthermore, as I have copies of each, it could not be said that I lacked them.

Likewise, should further developments eventually bring about a state of affairs in which ID cards containing RFID technology are replaced entirely by mandatory RFID implants, I will steadfastly refuse on, if nothing else, principle. What principle? The principle that the government should not have the power to tell me what to put inside my body. That is my opinion, and I respect the views of those who disagree. For myself, I will refuse them that power if at all possible.

I can easily foresee a time when a disaster or other precipitous event could justify the amalgamation of various forms of ID into a single RFID-equipped card. Because these forms of identification are so necessary and so mandatory in order to live in today's society and to function within its institutions, it wouldn't be difficult to obtain acquiescence on the part of the public simply by refusing to accept the existing separate forms as they are now, in my estimation. Once all personal data needed in order to open and use bank accounts, buy and sell using that account, see a doctor, or be identified become present on a single item (a single ID card,) all the government would need to do to force compliance with their replacement by RFID implants would be to render those cards null and void, and refuse to produce new ones. Since the data on them is so vital to life in modern society, people would feel they had no choice but to agree, or face immense hardship. I am willing (though admittedly unready) to face such hardship, however I can easily see that willingness being a minority sentiment.

That doesn't mean I firmly believe that this will happen or that I am speculating on the existence of a conspiracy to make it so, but I can certainly see how easily it could be done. The primary challenge, as seen with the Real ID, would be institutional gridlock and the financial hurdles involved in overhauling the system. Gaining public acceptance wouldn't even be the real problem, in my opinion. That disturbs me.