If you'll notice, the governments willingness to track citizens has kept up with the technology to do so.

A condition of the passing of Social Security was that the number would never be used for anything besides identifying the SS account. Well, they didn't have a way to use it for anything else at the time.

As punchcard computers became more available, the SSN started to be used for everything.

About the same time, law enforcement came up with the NCIC, a good thing. Started to be able to find serial killers, rapists, etc. And enhanced the ability to track not only bad guys, but everyone.

States traded information, a person with a DUII in one state couldn't cross the border and get another drivers license.

As the technology improves, they're gonna track you. Won't stop the really bad guys, 'cause they're gonna have phony ID.

It will be sold the way every other infringement on personal liberty is "sold", NATIONAL SECURITY. "What do you have to be afraid of?" will be the catchword.

And, the real dupes will make fun of the ACLU when they protest. "Radicals must love terrorists!" and "Why do they hate their country so much??!!"

The reality is that if any cop in the US has the slightest excuse you can be asked to ID yourself to his/her satisfaction. That's already going on. So, a card uniform across the States is just a small, incremental, extension of that obligation.

Funny.

Arf