Card-carrying Americans : privacy, security, and the national ID card debate /

Eaton examines the current debate concerning the use of identification documents in the US. He carefully analyzes the arguments of those who contend that national ID documents are necessary in the battles against criminals, terrorists, tax evaders, and illegal aliens. He also provides an objective discussion of the arguments put forth by those who oppose such documents on the ground that they invade our right to privacy or that they are too costly. Although Eaton is aware of the privacy and security problems and outlines specific steps to protect these basic rights, he contends that an even greater danger to the country lies in the failure to take advantage of the technology currently being utilized by several government agencies to produce valid, tamper-resistant identification documents. Eaton takes the position that recent developments in the ID card industry have the potential for enhancing personal and national security while improving privacy protection. Footnotes provide extensive documentation. Recommended for upper-division undergraduate and graduate students.-R. Stidham, Lamar University

In this era of computer information and credit cards, Eaton asks us to consider a national ID card. His ``debate'' in cludes the views of both proponents and the opposition. The thought of such a card conjures up images of Orwellian totalitarian states, so opponents such as the ACLU see it as a potential vehi cle of repression. Eaton, however, ar gues that there is already plenty of in formation about us available via banks, credit cards, and so on. He sees a na tional ID card as a way of overcoming abuses by providing better protection of the individual than, for example, eas ily counterfeited social security cards. Likewise, he argues that the fraudulent use of credit cards would not be so easy if they were backstopped with a tamper-proof national ID. The card would also limit welfare and other enti tlements fraud. To him, the advantages far outweigh the risks. Highly recom mended. Frank Kessler, Political Sci ence Dept., Missouri Western State Coll., St. Joseph (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.