All the examples you've listed are privileges. You do not need to have a credit card, cell phone, or to drive a car. A NID would literally be a license for existence. That's the major difference in my book.
Two other points: this proposed NID would do nothing to actually help the situation, and as this article illustrates the federal government's role is not to issue ID cards.
The freedom to exist without having a NID card, for one. (Sorry, was that one just too obvious that you missed it?)
As a cell phone user and a credit card user, I'm extremely easy to track but I have not noticed anyone tracking me except for marketeers.
They know that if they do something to truly offend you, then you will just cancel your cell phone and/or credit card.
What if the government uses your NID card to try to track whether you have guns, and then (later) to take them away? How will you "cancel"?
I guess you haven't thought about that.
My driver's license in Texas now has my thumbprint associated with it.
Same with mine in California. And I'm none too happy about it; if I had my druthers, that policy would be abolished.
You can't use one misguided policy to justify another. Did you think you could?
I'd love to trade all the plastic crap in my wallet with a single, universal smart card that only I can use to make purchases or vouch for my identity.
Go for it. I won't stop ya.
What am I missing?
You're missing the fact that just because you, personally wouldn't mind doing something doesn't mean it is therefore justified to force all your countrymen to do the same thing. In short you are missing the fact that the world does not revolve around you and your personal preferences.
It's a common mistake.
P.S. I notice you made no attempt whatsoever to actually argue that forcing everyone to carry a NID card would help stop terrorism. Which (I thought) was the whole justification for it. But the fact is, it wouldn't help stop terrorism, so I'm not surprised that you made no attempt to argue to the contrary. It was a wise move on your part.
If a national ID card becomes law, just try living a normal life without one. What do you think you are going to do, just call up the Fedgov and say you don't wish to have one? Then you will be on the FBI's terrorist list.
Then there's the expense. Ah, you say, Larry Ellison of Oracle will give the govt the database software for free. But he will charge for maintenance and upgrades. Besides, the major cost of a database is not the software. That's actually a tiny portion of the cost. Requirements analysis and design are far more expensive. And think of all the govt data entry people you'll need. The people to verify that everyone with access to the database is actually entitled to access. Etc, etc.
And access: to be usable on a national level millions of govt people would need access to your data. Does none of this concern you?
Nothing much. Only the "666" on your forehead, and you'd be complete!
Does the term "Juden" ring any bells?
Those who will not learn from history are destined to repeat it.........who knows, maybe they'll just be happy to put "gun owner" on our IDs and leave it at that....yeah, Right!!
Also remember that when initally instituted the SS card was guaranteed to NEVER be used for identification purposes. My original card even stated this quite plainly on the back - NOT TO BE USED FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES -- does the NEW card that I had to obtain after I married carry this disclaimer? Nope.... Loss of freedom and liberty is generally done incrementally and a National ID card (IMHO) is just another small incremental step with even more POTENTIAL for abuse by the feds and all their unconstitutional agencies.