William Larsen

Indiana to invalidate driver license or identification cards

It is amazing how many are like sheep or should I say the frog that jumped into a cold kettle of water only to realize much later that it was a cooking pot. Food for thought. In 1936 it was proposed that those covered by Social Security would receive a number. Many thought this was the Number of the Beast and debates raged. For many years up to 1974, the Social Security Card had printed at the bottom “Not For Identification.” This appeased many and the issue died. In 1960 the IRS began using the social security account number, but did not require it until 1996. Even the BMV did not require the SSN until recently. If you did not have a social security account number, you could still get a driver’s license, but they had to certify your birth certificate, just like social security does.

Now the BMV has mailed notices to thousands of people stating “We have provided three options for updating this information and request that you do so within 30 days of the date of this letter. Failure to update this information could result in invalidation of your license or identification card.” Remember a government issued ID is required to vote in Indiana.

The IRS requires a W-4, W-9 and Forms 1098-E and 1098-T be filled out when accepting a wage position, opening a financial account or attending a college/university. If you do not provide a SSN, you cannot work, open a financial account or attend college. Now we can add more to the list: You cannot vote, drive a car or get into a government building to address your representatives. In essence without a SSN, you cannot work, buy or sell, travel or vote.

What is wrong here? Under the new law to get a SSN, only certain documents can be accepted as proof of U.S. citizenship. These include your U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship. If you are a U.S. citizen, Social Security must see your: U.S. driver’s license; State-issued non driver identity card; or U.S. passport. If you do not have these specific documents or cannot get a replacement for them within 10 days, we will ask to see other documents, including: Employee ID card; School ID card; Health insurance card (not a Medicare card); U.S. military ID card; or Adoption decree. To get most of the identified documents, you need a SSN, but without these documents you cannot get a SSN.

Does a social security number prove who you are or does it only prove a number was issued to a particular person, but who that person it cannot identify? Keep in mind politicians crafted this National ID, so does it really provide any protection or is it political fluff, false sense of security and can we expect it to end here?

When a national ID is debated, the majority speak out. Where is the majority now?

posted by William Larsen @ 8:35 AM