"A government which abuses and therefore fears its populace needs to be able to track them at all times."
Could it be that a government that needs to find a way to combat infiltration by illegal immigration and wants to diminsh voter fraud might want a similar type of system?
Then secure the borders and have a voting-specific ID (NY uses signatures, Iraq uses purple ink - good enough).
The problem with immigration is the free-for-all welfare system drawing people here, and a tax system that confiscates money from workers' paychecks requiring each employee be registered. Cure the disease, not the symptom.
The problem with voting is making sure people vote (a) once, and (b) in their home jurisdiction. If you want a voter ID card, fine - but, like the SSN card, it should NEVER be used for anything other than its original narrow purpose.
I'm shocked that FR frequenters seek a solution that involves protecting the welfare state by increasing gov't monitoring/control of citizens - that's socialism, not conservatism.
Do you really think that our government wishes to combat infiltration by illegal aliens? (Republicans certainly don't - their business supporters would lose out on all that low-wage, low-cost docile labor!)
Do you really believe that our government wants to combat voter fraud? (Democrats don't - why should they wish to diminish the ever-increasing stream of fraudulent voters, who, of course, all vote Democrat!)