At the end of the day, it’s surprising there’s not a national ID database. I mean it practically already exists (social security). The government will have systems to identify its systems.

The real problem is that these systems exist, but:

It’s a horrible experience for the citizens. Your SSN is deeply insecure, used as a username/identification AND a PIN code or password, and is a tiny piece of paper that can easily crumble. On top of that, you have like a bajillion different forms of ID, and it’s frequently unclear who requires what. A “driver’s” license for CARS is the most commonly used identification for practically everything, a passport costs money and isn’t that easy to get… you move two miles to a different state and everything has to change.

We’re getting all of the privacy cons and none of the benefits. Let’s at least get the benefits.

And also, it could totally be cryptographically more secure and private if we wanted. Like scanning to verify age being able to track your name/address.

But in my view, citizens should get a proper ID card at birth that just covers everything. Instead of the current half assed system which has ALL of the same negatives.

Estonia has a good system, a national ID system that nevertheless is cryptographically secure such that you can't steal someone's identity.

Decentralization has the benefit of minimizing the possibility of a tyrannical federal government, by design.

This is a step in the wrong direction, at a time when the tyranny is no longer hypothetical.