On Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:43:05 -0400, Gene Kearns
wrote:

On Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:29:44 -0500, John H. penned the following well
considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

On Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:20:13 -0400, Gene Kearns
wrote:

On Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:28:00 -0500, John H. penned the following well
considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

On Wed, 31 Oct 2007 07:17:12 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:

USA Today reports this morning that Homeland Security has ordered one
of its divisions, (the USCG) to define a plan to positively identify
boaters. The rationale is that small boats could be loaded with
explosives and used to
blow up military or commercial vessels, ala USS Cole. Until the USCG
presents its plan we don't know the details, but possible requirements
*could* include, at a minimum, carrying a national Boater ID card.
(Something the Administration seems to favor, based on its proposals
in several areas).

Snipped

I'm a believer in a national ID card, whether it helps ID boaters or not.
Of course, many who are in favor of illegal immigration are opposed to
same.

Your rationale could easily be applied to boat or vehicle registration or
birth certificates.

Europeans don't leave home without their national ID. We should be doing
the same.

Wouldn't it be more prudent and cost effective to have chips implanted
at birth? No more lost children or adults, in case of emergency you
could be immediately located and identified, and the government would
know where you are at any given time. No more terrorism!

It would be even more prudent to completely do away with any form of ID? No
birth certificate, no diplomas, no paperwork of any kind which identifies a
person. You say you're Gene, I say I'm Gene, and no one can tell the
difference, except maybe your mom. But, that would assume she was given the
right child at the hospital, where no form of ID was used. Interesting.

You refute your own notion of the effectiveness of a national id
because even your own mother can't be sure *you* are *you*. A
photographic image would only serve to prove that you are not your
Mom, but, then, maybe you could be because you were both given to the
wrong parents. (Imagine how many bureaucrats you'd have to hire to
sort that out.)

No. A piece of paper is only a piece of paper. It may make the masses
*feel safe,* but, alas, it is *only* a piece of paper.

You and Chuck both seem to say nothing is necessary because it's not
perfection. I disagree with that attitude. ID's can be developed that have
much more than a picture imprinted thereon. But, those won't be perfect
either.

I disagree with the attitude that since perfection is unobtainable, we
should do nothing.