Google's 'ID Validation' Is a Joke, But Not Funny 211
An anonymous reader writes "I was curious about the whole profile reporting and ID validation process on Google+ so I decided to do a little experimental work to find out just what is involved. Answer: very little which could be called rigor." Tease: this story involves a form of I.D. only slightly less funny than the 409-eater with a passport in the name of James Tiberius Kirk.
Re:Americans are a free people: No Identity papers (Score:2, Insightful)
I don't think you've thought this through very well. Your reply does not seem to be based on fact.
(1) "people who are here legally, but have brown skin, must carry their papers with them at all times."
I've just been reading up on Arizona's SB 1070. It makes no mention whatsoever of "brown skin." The law seems to apply equally to all colors of immigrants. I.e., it certainly discriminates between nationals and foreigners, but does not seem to discriminate between *types* of foreigners.
Not trying to be disingenuous here. Arizona clearly has a problem with illegal immigration from Mexico, not from Romania. But that doesn't mean Arizonans don't like *Mexicans*; it just means they don't like *illegal immigration.*
(2) "'Americans are a free people: No Identity papers' doesn't apply to Arizona. In Arizona, you're only free if you're white."
This seems obviously false as well. The people you're referring to -- i.e., immigrants, whether legal or illegal -- *aren't Americans.* I certainly hope we treat non-Americans well, but whether we do or don't seems to have little bearing on whether Americans "are a free people."
- aj
Re:Americans are a free people: No Identity papers (Score:4, Insightful)
You seem to know a thing or two about ridiculousness.
(1) "You know damn well that no cop is going to arrest a white person on suspicion of being an immigrant."
Are you aware that the law explicitly forbids arresting a person of *any* color on "suspicion of being an immigrant"?
(2) "Anyone living long term in this country is an American."
Not sure what you're trying to say here. I don't believe a long tenure of living here automatically grants you American citizenship, though of course you can apply. But what if you choose not to? What if you don't consider yourself an American? Are you one anyway? And do you mean living long-term here legally? Or illegally?
You are obviously speaking from the heart here, but that doesn't mean what you're saying makes any sense. Often, the opposite.
(3) "That's what makes this country great, or at least what used to. "
I'm sorry, but this is objectively incorrect. What made this country great was the unprecedented application of liberal values: Freedom of speech, assembly, religion and thought; government of, by and for the people; equal justice under law; etc. In other words, all those things we call "liberty." How long people lived here had nothing to do with it. Simple racial diversity is a nice plus -- I like it as much as you do -- but even the most cursory review of history will show that it's hardly critical, or even necessary. Plenty of relatively homogenous civilizations have achieved great things.
(4) "Once you get right down to it, this law will be used to imprison legal immigrants, and even natural born citizens of Mexican ancestry."
ALL LAWS are eventually abused, by politicians, prosecutors or cops who are incompetent, ignorant, racist, etc. This law is no different. Victims of abuse are free to sue for giant settlements, just like in any other case of wrongful arrest/imprisonment.
- aj