November 14, 2007
ID, Please?
San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved municipal ID cards to SF inhabitants yesterday. These (hopefully adorable) new cards can be used by anyone here, it seems -- U.S. resident or not. Tommy Ammiano introduced the legislation, which, according to the Chronicle, "would require companies holding city contracts to accept the municipal card as a legitimate form of identification." (So does that mean they can be used to get into bars? Sweet.)
Ammiano also claims that these cards would help people "living on the social margins" cross the velvet rope into such exclusivity as getting their own bank accounts, as well as feeling more comfortable about calling the police if they, or someone else, needs help.
Eh, sounds like a good idea. The anti-immigration rhetoric as of late comes across like an attempt to close Pandora's Box, etcetera, etcetera, and so forth. (Okay, bad reference -- how about, an attempt to un-ring a bell? to catch a moonbeam in its hand?) We'll get one of the new IDs, but only if it's pretty, sparkly, and comes with funky graphics; otherwise, we'll stick to our driver's license.
Oh, and Supervisor Sean Elsbernd was the only one to vote against the ID legislation. So...there you go.
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I would like to get one with free valet parking. Thanks in advance.
Why not just identify "those on the social margins" by he unique sounds they make? Like the call of a momma penguin, or a snowflake, each vile imprecation or vague, paranoid threat is unique.
So, folks who want to get these cards will cover the costs, right?? $10 or $20 for an ID card to open up library and other public services seems fair to me. I'd hate to think this is being pulled out of public education, MUNI, or other general funds.
I so excited to get one of these, I can't even say.
While well meaning, this is a dumb idea. Given that most people already have a drivers license or a state issued id card, most of the people getting this cards will be illegal immigrants, which means that any time someone displays one, they will be immediately assumed to be illegally in the country, and some business may decide to avoid breaking federal laws by finding some other reason not to hire or do business with the person.
can i use it to buy medical weed? otherwise, forget it.
Will they be honored in Mexico?
They all read "John Doe". At least mine will.
you have to have an id to get one of these. so, for illegal immigrants, a mexican id or a birth certificate will work. but you can't just go get an id without something to validate your identity in the first place. so yes, while well-meaning, basically worthless.
How about "taxes, please?"
I love how in all this rhetoric about how illegal immigrants should have equal access to city services, noone mentions the elephant in the room: illegal immigrants can't pay taxes. (At least, not without telling the Federal Government that they're here illegally, getting deported, and probably getting their employer busted as well.)
The guys standing outside Home Depot take home more ($10/hour cash under the table) than the guys at the register inside.
Doesn't the article say 2 other supes voted against it too? Or am I reading that wrong? Late...wine...etc, but I think the always dependable (or not) Ms. Alioto-Pier was also opposed.
"The anti-immigration rhetoric as of late comes across like an attempt to close Pandora's Box, etcetera, etcetera, and so forth. (Okay, bad reference -- how about, an attempt to un-ring a bell? to catch a moonbeam in its hand?)"
An attempt to undo an all-out invasion, perhaps? An attempt to hold on to a vanishing, soon-to-be-conquered culture? Pretty soon "press 1 for English" won't be an option anymore. At least, it won't be here in "white people are the root of all evil" San Francisco.
Sorry to be a bore.
Jeez!
If a card might help some people out, why not give it a try? It just doesn't seem like that big of a deal to me.
Well I don't think those fine upstanding American citizens who comprise ALL of our homeless pay taxes either. So lay off the Mexicans, at least they're not sucking from the tit like a dehydrated baboon.