I can remember a time when an ID card was something you got out of the bubble gum machine. 

Not all Universities are that strict apparently.  I now work for a post secondary organization (which is sweet since I get student pricing on a lot of stuff), and all they require for the most part is an email for the organization (they email you with a link that you have to click on to set up your account).

beats trying to figure out which card they want to see.

The interesting thing about "mobile Phone" is that is all they wanted as well - the email address.  You had to reply to a message sent, but then got the discount. (Verizon is the company).

Several things.  First, passports and driver's licenses are not required.  So you can get by without them (although a government picture ID card is essential).. However the government Picture card does not have the information behind it that the first 2 items do, so losing it is not that big a deal (and does kind of negate the reason for it, but that is another scream).

The ID card would have all the information that the drivers license and passport has, so it would be that much more valuable for thieves.  And that much more valuable to those who want to track what you are doing.

Apparently the ability to work legally in the US.

No it is not (but thanks for trying to teach me about the US). US citizens are not required to have a green card to work. That is why a National ID would be a valuable item to a thief. Just as stolen Social Security cards are now (which you must show now to a potential employer, whether you are a citizen or legal resident w/ green card), and they only contain a name and number on them.

Anthony R,

There has been so much going on in politics lately, I missed this. Thanks for the article.

I'm against national ID cards because inevitably we lose our right to privacy...It's one more way Big Government is surveilling us. They will be able to track everyone's movements and have knowledge of financial transactions.    

I remember when Kennedy was pushing "efficiency" in Health care by having everyone's records digitalized...a national standard. According to him, the widespread use (first national, then global) of electronic data was gonna cut costs...all managed by the federal government of course. Ya, right. That's what we all want to do...give Big Government access to our most private records.  

Audiafox posts:

Yes, I think it's on the way....as you said correctly...the new push for it.... They have been talking about the ID card and chip implant for some time. They frame the need for it under the safety category. It'll start out as a voluntary thing, then (like Obamacare) be mandated that everyone has it. First on a national level, then global. People are being systematically desensitized to it and  all of a sudden we'll read somewherre they are putting them in babies before they leave the hospital.

Not sure because I haven't seen the bill.

Every job I've had, I had to produce my SS card and/or my retired military ID (which contains my SSN), couldn't just give them a number or photo copy. That said, illegals get jobs, so I'm pretty sure some employers are not being so thorough.

So what's the danger to freedom with an ID card that does what a driver's licence does plus prove your right to work?

It seems to me that such a card could only limit the freedom of those who don't have the right to work.

I ran into this quite a bit.  I also bucked the system for quite a while but they gradually mandated it and it got so I couldn't open up a bank account without my SS#.  At one point I tried to keep my kids numbers out of the system and was successful for quite a while.  The school wanted my eldest son's SS# to go into Jr. High.  When I asked why they didn't really have an answer except to say it was easier to track them by numbers.  So I suggested they give my son the #1.  I'm sure no one else had that number.  They must have made up a number for him because they never insisted after that. 

yes, this was coming on the heels of WWII.  People, after seeing what they Jews went thru, didn't want to subject themselves to any type of identification numbering system.  But that has worn off now, and the younger generation has no clue really where this could all lead to. 

I'm not trying to make a case for it. Maybe you should reference my first post if you care to see my opinion on the matter.

Illegal workers cannot vote. I find this argument stretchy..

Well, that is a legitimate political claim, don't you think? They want the illegals to become legal for reasons X Y and Z.

I am not saying that it's a claim that is actually desirable for your country, nor that I support it. Just that it's something that can be acceptable on the political spectrum of things.

But on the other hand, does the.. err.. 12% (?) of latino citizen of the US are monolithically in favor of such legislation?