The narrative discusses the history and usage of the Social Security number in the United States, which serves as a quasi-ID for American citizens. The Social Security number was created during the Great Depression as part of the Social Security program, a mandatory pension system for citizens. The number was initially assigned to working adults and was intended to track contributions and withdrawals from the program. Over time, the number was used by various institutions, including the IRS, to track individuals, leading to its widespread use as a form of identification.
However, the Social Security number lacks the security features found in most ID numbers, such as self-checking mechanisms. This makes it vulnerable to identity theft and misuse. Despite its widespread use, the Social Security number is not universal, as not all Americans have an account number or pay into the program. Some exceptions exist, including certain religious groups and specific professions, which have been able to opt out of the program.
In conclusion, the Social Security number serves as a unique identifier for American citizens, despite its lack of security features and the fact that it is not universal. Its widespread use and the lack of a national ID card have led to its status as a de facto national ID number.
1. Americans have a unique number, the Social Security number, which is used by many places to identify individuals. This number was not originally intended for identification purposes but has become a quasi ID due to its widespread use.
2. The Social Security number was created during the Great Depression as part of the Social Security program, a mandatory pension system where citizens would pay in during their working lives and withdraw in their retirement.
3. The Social Security number was initially only assigned to working adults when they started working. However, over time, it became common for children to have a Social Security number from birth, despite not being considered child laborers.
4. The Social Security number was used by the tax department to track what individuals put in and what they take out. This was facilitated by the fact that the number was unique and could be easily tracked across different institutions.
5. The Social Security number was made unique for all citizens from the start, making it easy for other institutions like banks, schools, companies, and landlords to also use it for tracking purposes.
6. The Social Security number was never designed to be used as an ID number, and it lacks the self-checking security built into most ID numbers. This makes it vulnerable to fraud and identity theft.
7. The Social Security number is not universal, as not everyone has a Social Security account number, and not everyone pays into the program.
8. There are exceptions to the Social Security program, such as for certain religious groups, railroad workers, firefighters, police, and teachers. These exceptions are typically groups that were able to opt out of the program at its creation date.