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All this boils down to: in India there's a national ID database you can use, which makes this a lot simpler. The US does not have a national ID database, and t

by likpok 5y ago

All this boils down to: in India there's a national ID database you can use, which makes this a lot simpler. The US does not have a national ID database, and there is a lot of resistance against making one. Each state could probably use the driver's license, but that locks out people who don't drive -- a small but disproportionately marginalized group. Government services are tricky because they need to serve everyone. That means that you have to handle a lot of special cases and struggle to categorically ban bad actors. Google can say "you've used your gmail account to send spam emails, so we're banning it". The IRS can't do that (I think even if they put you in prison for tax fraud).

olyjohn 5y ago
If you don't drive, every state that I can think of will still assign you an ID that is just like a license, but doesn't give you permission to drive.
jdmichal 5y ago
> The US does not have a national ID database, and there is a lot of resistance against making one. Which is hilarious, because if you combine the databases of the SSA and IRS, you get most everything that would be in such a database anyway. SSA gives you a pretty comprehensive list of people, even non-citizens. IRS gives you an annually-updated address and some other info. Throw in the State department and you get passport information for those that have gotten one, which will include a photo.