Sometimes lost in the debate over national ID cards is the fact that we already have at least one national ID, that being the Social Security card. Employers are required to check those cards, so it's very difficult to be employed in a legal business without one.
One of the many agencies harrassing businesses is the INS, which wants to verify legal residency status of every employee. This is one of those bureaucratic requirements that makes having employees that much more expensive and perilous for employers, as businesses which have faulty paperwork can be subject to hefty fines even if their employees are legally eligible to work.
I've met a quite a few people who would like to see the feds combat illegal immigration by increasing penalties for employers who hire illegal immigrants. Some of these same people are also against national ID cards, and I don't think they realize they are arguing against themselves.
You can be against national ID cards or for increased employment screening, but not both. If you pick the latter be prepared to carry that ID card and be forced to use it often.
Posted by Walter at March 31, 2005 02:37 PM