Democrats embrace adding photos to Social Security cards

washingtonpost.com ^

[Sub-Driver]

Democrats embrace adding photos to Social Security cards By Juliet Eilperin and Karen Tumulty, Published: April 10

As Republicans push for new voting restrictions around the country, a handful of Democrats have coalesced around an impromptu idea: placing a photo on Social Security cards.

Former U.N. ambassador and civil rights activist Andrew Young — who chairs a nonpartisan voting rights group called Why Tuesday? — buttonholed President Obama and two of his predecessors in Texas this week in an effort to win their support for the concept. Former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter endorsed the idea, while the White House declined to comment.

“It’s just an idea whose time may have come,” said Young, a former Atlanta mayor who was in Austin to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act at the Lyndon B. Johnson presidential library. “What we’re saying is, everybody’s got a Social Security card. But with all of this identity theft going on, it’s a good idea to have your picture on it.”

The proposal drew praise from some election experts but also prompted immediate concerns on both sides of the political spectrum — highlighting the controversy that still surrounds voting rights issues.

Some voter advocates said requiring such cards could still put poorer Americans at a disadvantage, while conservatives such as Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) argued that it could pave the way for a new form of national ID.

“This is a really bad idea,” Paul said in a statement. “The Social Security card is only supposed to be used for Social Security benefits. This idea would make it easy for the federal government to convert the Social Security card into a national identification card.”

[mongo141]

“But no photo ID for voting, right?”
************************
Correct because that’s different.

[no-to-illegals]

We must have duplication. We must overlap departments. There simply isn't enough. We must find new methods to collect the taxpayers' money; all of it! We need more of everything. If it doesn't work, we can blame somebody ... anybody but we whom have decided. There ain't enough more out there. We, your humbly elected, will 'change' that. If you 'hope' we don't ... well go pound sand. We, your humbly elected, have spoken.

This message brought to you by those not wanting voter ID and honest elections.

[Focault's Pendulum]

so my kids got their SS cards when they were tots... is that when they would have taken their photos?

I think it's a great idea! They can have mine right now!

[bgill]

So, it’ll be an ID card when it was never supposed to be used for ID. Ok, whatever.

[Steve_Seattle]

I think Paul is overreacting. We already have social security cards, so why is adding a photo to it such a bad idea? What is the big difference between a Voter ID card with a photo and a social security card with a photo? The only objection I can think of is cost, because the photos would need to be updated periodically.

[Buckeye McFrog]

“The Social Security card is only supposed to be used for Social Security benefits. This idea would make it easy for the federal government to convert the Social Security card into a national identification card.”

That ship sailed during the Carter Administration when they removed the words "Not for Identification Purposes" from the card, and everyone began asking for your SSN for every blasted thing.

[puppypusher]

The Feds had better make it Mandatory to produce a Certified Birth Certificate before the Social Security Card can be issued.Otherwise that would just defeat the purpose and allow the democrats to continue with their Voter Fraud Campaign.

[latina4dubya]

okay—that made me laugh out loud—at work!

[JoeProBono]

[RedStateRocker]

Yeah, probably the best solution.

[wrench]

Every state already issues driver license or state ID cards for non driers.

Mine has both a picture ID and a fingerprint. What is the problem with state issued identification?

Just link into the same database driver licenses use to spot multiple licenses, and it is a done deal.

[BuffaloJack]

I’ve had the same Social Security Card since 1962 when I registered for the card so I could join the Navy. It states clearly on it that it may now be used for identification. I ain’t changing it.

[GreyFriar]

Let’s see now: One has to get a social security card for their child before the child’s 1st birthday in order to claim the child on the tax forms. This means that the photo will be of a child less than one year old. Will that photo bear any resemblence to what the child looks like when he or she is 18 years old? Probably not, thus either good voter fraud, or a need to constantly update the social security card photo, thus putting an unbearable burden on a selected minority of the dimocrats choosing.

[BuffaloJack]

I can’t type without typos.

I’ve had the same Social Security Card since 1962 when I registered for the card so I could join the Navy. It states clearly on it that it may NOT be used for identification. I ain’t changing it.

[bert]

There might be deceit involved here.

One can obtain a SS card and not be a citizen but gets the right to show the photo ID SS card and vote

[Cats Pajamas]

or

The Mark of the Beast
16And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.

[Beagle8U]

“As Republicans push for new voting restrictions around the country, a handful of Democrats have coalesced around an impromptu idea: placing a photo on Social Security cards.”

Since SS cards are now issued at birth, adding a photo to them won’t hinder demoncrap voter fraud if that is used for ID.

[no-to-illegals]

Do We the People, have to buried with our SS card? Are the SS rolls contained within the federal government purged of our SS number when each of us dies? Will doing photo ID of our SS cards eliminate people walking around voting with tombstones up their butt? I could go on and on but I truly believe the problem is any form of ID is possible to be duplicated.

Some of the phony duplication is quite good. Some of the duplication of phony IDs has become so good it is indistinguishable from those given out by governments worldwide. If an FBI person was to come to my door and show me their ID to gain entry into my home ... I could not be certain the ID was legitimate. The criminal forces producing duplicate IDs have become that good with their production methods.

Biometrics are not foolproof as has been mentioned. Biometrics can be reproduced in lab conditions. Retina scans may possibly be the only foolproof method but that information would have to be encoded on the card as well. Then we set the situation to be ripe for new technology to reproduce retina information for the monitor. It seems like nothing can be done with to lower astronomical costs and then there is no foolproof method, regrettably. Becomes a No win in this approach of photos because the ID could be stolen and is for certain duplication can be done.

Same with the money. No method exists to keep counterfeiters from making duplications that can pass as legitimate, if the counterfeiter is good enough to understand the necessary methods to reproduce something phony. Jobs are created though and the criminal element produces jobs to counter. Is always a vicious cycle and no I do not hold the answer as how to stop this vicious cycle. Wish I did hold the answer. I'd be rich.

[plain talk]

When my children were little we acquired social security cards for them. Still have them in a lock box. Now the kids are grown. So I guess if someone wanted to see their SS card they could display it and (if this scheme had been implemented long ago) the card would display what they looked like when they were 6. :-)

[Hoffer Rand]

This is stupid. You get your SS card when you’re a baby. Everybody is going to be showing a card with their baby picture on it. How is that going to help? So, unless they put expiration dates on them and make you go get your picture taken again every few years (huge waste of taxpayer $$$$$), this is just dumb.