Agree - sounds like a GOOD IDEA.

They already do this in some countries, for example in Denamrk. The number is your birth certificate number, and stays with you for life, appearing on your passport, identity card etc.

Objections are from the privacy / anti big brother state side.

It was recently proposed for Switzerland, but it was defeated.

The about-to-be introduced British ID card will give everyone a unique number, which probably will mean that organisations will start recording this number as well as their own numbers, so it will then become universal by default.

It works on prison uniforms and did nicely tatooed on Jewish concentration camp victims. Since we're all about to lose most of our civil rights, what the hell. Why not?

I'm kind of not in favor even though it will be convenient. Right now there are lot of places like library where Driver's license number is enough. If SSN and other ID s are merged I have to think 10 time before I could give to somebody to open an account. May we can have a unique moniker ID or something like that through which requesting entities can get other numbers if they have authorization.

good in theory...but anymore. hell, if someone gets ahold of one thing, now they would have EVERYTHING...