The National ID Card
By Al Colombo
Those who saw the June 28, 1999, cover of Time magazine witnessed numerous "identification papers belonging to massacre victims from the town of Kolic." As I scanned this picture I couldn't help but ask myself why the citizens of Kolic are required to have "Identification Papers" that resemble Passports in size and format.
Can you imagine what life would be like if our own government required the same thing of us? Well, very shortly a similar plan will go into effect here in the United States of America! Believe it or not, but for the first time in the history of the United States, authorities will be able to say, "Papers please!"
For many years Americans didn't need so much as a slip of paper with their name and address on it to move about and do business with the local, state, or federal government. Of course, today, we know that some form of identification (ID) is a must, like our state-issued drivers license.
What many Americans do not know is that if Section 656 of the ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION REFORM AND IMMIGRANT RESPONSIBILITY ACT OF 1996 (PUBLIC LAW 104-208) is allowed to stand without an amendment or the Congress recinding it, in October of 2000, ciitizens will be required to carry a national ID card that will contain almost an equal amount of information, but in digital and optical formats. This will be done through your State drivers license.
There are some concerned "government watchers" who say that this act will turn state-issue drivers licenses into a national ID card. Although it could certainly be used to track citizens as well as glean personal information, it is more likely that government will employ a newly designed Social Security Card for this task. Although there will be those who disagree with this assessment, it must be remembered that not everyone in society has a drivers license, but everyone does or should have a Social Security Card if they intend to fall in line with the existing system.
Looking at the drivers license portion of this act, in Section 652 it states that the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, will develop a card that contains security features designed to prevent tampering, counterfeiting, photocopying and duplication by any other means. For identification purposes, after October 1, 2000, all federal agencies and departments will accept only drivers licenses equipped with the new ID criteria. This will apply to new applicants and all renewals.
What are some of the things that our new federally-approved drivers licenses will contain? It will likely entail hollographic, magnetic, and textual information providing authorities your picture, fingerprints, Social Security Number (SSN) and other personal data. The only exception regarding SSNs are in states that do not require the posting of a SSN on the drivers license itself. In this case, before a drivers license can be issued, it must be provided by the applicant at the time they apply for their drivers license.
The act also includes changes to our Social Security Card. When the federal government is through, you will no longer recognize your Social Security card. Here's what the federal government has in store for this universal identifier card (per Section 653):
The Commissioner of Social Security (in this section referred
to as the `Commissioner') shall, in accordance with the provisions
of this section, develop a prototype of a counterfeit-resistant
social security card. Such prototype card--
(A) shall be made of a durable, tamper-resistant material such
as plastic or polyester;
(B) shall employ technologies that provide security features,
such as magnetic stripes, holograms, and integrated circuits;
and
(C) shall be developed so as to provide individuals with
reliable proof of citizenship or legal resident alien status.
Changes are also mandated for new birth certificates. The act calls for a study and report by a group of federal departments. The main organizing agency will be decided upon by President Clinton. The deadline for that report has already come and gone and the author is not acquainted 1) if that deadline was met, or 2) if it was, what the contents of the ensuing report was.
