Reply #14: The only thing that could make that simple is to have a national ID card

[kenny blankenship]

such as France has, which although backed up by a national fingerprint database is getting antiquated (it dates from Vichy no less!), or more like what Britain is proposing to do with the expansion of their National Identity Register Britain has long had national ID papers - it's not a federation government like ours so there's less of an issue of stepping on local jurisdictions that are jealous of their powers. Two world wars against a foreign enemy that could infiltrate them for intelligence and sabotage led to national ID registry becoming a permanent fixture of British life.

The United Kingdom National Identity Card is a personal identification document and European Union travel document.

The cards are linked to a database known as the National Identity Register (NIR). The Act specifies fifty categories of information that the NIR can hold on each citizen,<1> including up to 10 fingerprints, digitised facial scan and iris scan, current and past UK and overseas places of residence of all residents of the UK throughout their lives and indices to other Government databases (including National Insurance Number <2>) — which would allow them to be connected. The legislation on this resident register also says that any further information can be added.

You would have to make it compulsory, and require it for a range of basic common economic activities - getting a job/hiring somebody, opening a bank acct. or cashing a check, applying for govt services, renting property or buying/leasing transportation.

It absolutely can be done. I'm not saying yea or nay, but only suggesting what it takes to realize the goal you propose. The question is do you want to live in such a country where producing your ID for basic activities of life is required on a nearly daily basis. So far, liberals and conservatives alike in this country have always said No.