The National ID Card

The idea of a National ID card is not a new one. In 1971, the Social Security Administration rejected the idea of replacing the Social Security card with a National ID card. The administrations of Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton also vetoed the idea.

September 11, 2001, prompted Homeland Security to revisit the subject. If the National ID card had been in place, terrorists should not have been able to enter our country, much less train at our flight schools. I will address this later in the article.

Although there are many merits to having the National ID card, not everybody agrees that it's a good idea. This article will address how the National ID card would be issued, what it would be used for, and the pros and cons of requiring every American to have one.

The National ID card would be issued at the DMV, and take the place of your regular driver's license. To verify your identity, a photo ID, and verification of birth date, and address, would be presented to the clerk. Your social security number would be verified by the Social Security Administration.

The plastic card is digitally embedded with personal information such as name, sex, birth date, address, digital photo, and your ID number. Homeland Security could also require fingerprint verification, or a retinal scan, and physical security measures would be included to prevent duplication or tampering. Once all the information has been verified, it is stored in a national database.

When you board a plane, check into a motel, do business with your bank, or apply for Social Security, or government aid, you will need to show your National ID card. Basically, anything you show ID for now, you will do the same with your National ID card.

Let's look at the pro side first. The National ID card wouldn't have to be renewed every four years like a driver's license, which would save time, and the hassle of visiting the DMV. Terrorists would no longer be able to blend in with the general population, and launch a surprise attack. With terrorist travel restricted, our borders would be more secure.

Going to the other extreme, even suicide bombers may have an ID card, and the 9/11 terrorists all had valid passports. Criminals can sell stolen ID cards for a high price, so muggings of people who always carry their National ID card, may increase.

In my opinion, the cons outweigh the pros of implementing the National ID card. Identity theft has the potential to run rampant. Each state has access to the database, where your name, address, birth date, and other personal information is stored. An experienced hacker might easily gain access to the database, and may try to impersonate you, while draining your bank account.

Critics of the National ID card warn that issuing these cards is just the first step to increasing government control. After a while, the government will recommend adding new security measures, while slowly taking away freedom of choice from the people. If the National ID cards fail, the government might suggest implantable chips with your medical records, and your ID stored on it. Any excuse will do to take away your privacy and freedom.

There's no "free lunch" with these National ID cards. The taxpayer will be the one to foot the bill. The government may not come right out and make each person pay individually, but at the very least, they will raise fees somewhere else, like passports.

These National ID cards could be implemented at any time, and continue to generate a lot of controversy. I think this subject will be talked about more in the coming year, and I think everyone should educate themselves on the pros and cons of using these cards. By plugging National ID card into Google, you'll see a wealth of information, both for and against their implementation. You never know when they might start using the National ID card, so the best way to protect yourself, is to be informed.

searchsecurity.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid14_gci939087,00.html
news.cnet.com/FAQ-How-Real-ID-will-affect-you/2100-1028_3-5697111.html
www.vigay.com/misc/idcards.html