SSN is being misused by feds

In the early 20th century, beginning in 1935, liberals sought a means to track and control every citizen in this nation. It was called the Social Security Act, passed in 1913.

A terrific fuss was made at the time by civil libertarians worried that the Social Security number could be used for nefarious purposes by the federal government. As a result, the law was passed with a major proviso that the SSN was not to be used for identification under any circumstances. There was much fear that the U.S. government would turn into a tyrannical monster, as many European governments had, using the SSN as an effective spying and tracking mechanism on their citizens.

For the next 40 years, the SSN was kept pretty much between individuals and the Social Security Administration. The back of the Social Security Card stated plainly that the card was not to be used for identification. Toward the end of the 1960s, things began to change, though, when more and more of the publics activities were tracked by the federal government with a SSN. The military began to use it in lieu of a serial number. State motor vehicle departments began to ask for it at drivers license renewal time.

In the spring of 1988, the Alaska Legislature, lured by millions of federal tax dollars, passed a law that required the SSN for new drivers licenses as well as hunting and fishing licenses. The claim was that it was necessary to track down deadbeat dads who fail to pay child support. At least the government admitted it was to be used for tracking purposes. But that didnt make it right.

Now the specter familiar from old World War II movies has finally come to pass; we have law enforcement demanding to see, Papers, Papers! This time as a de facto National ID Card. The police roadblock with a little gate, manned by Germans in dull gray uniforms, demanding Papers, Papers! and culling the demeaned masses through a government gauntlet is now a very real scenario.

When opposing this attack on our privacy, I ran into a silly group of ideas. Proponents simply defined their way out of the privacy argument. But we need it to help the kids, was the constant refrain. This does not make sense on its face. While meant for deadbeat dads, all are now required to show the SSN men, women, children, teen-agers.

But we need federal money, was another constant reply. But at the price of liberty? I asked. To this, many would simply not acknowledge the question. It was dismissed as unimportant.

This is a dangerous slide into government control of a country that has taken pride in its freedom and individual liberty. The Alaska Constitution guarantees an individuals right to privacy. Yet the new state-mandated demand for the SSN denies this most egregiously. Civil disobedience has already begun over this denial of privacy. At least one court case is ongoing and one of my constituents is planning on leaving the state if it is not reversed.

Rep. John Coghills House bill 311 (which Ive co-sponsored) would help reverse this advance of the government boot, but the bill is now languishing in the House Resources Committee.

Apparently the members of this committee are unaware of the dangers of having a National ID Card or perhaps dont fully understand the issue. They could use several hundred phone calls, public opinion messages, letters and e-mails to encourage them to act.

Wake up Alaska! We are losing our precious liberty to the state. Are we Volk-marching in lock step to an Orwellian Big Brother? Or are we free Alaskans?

Rep. Kohring is a third-term Republican who serves the Wasilla area and Peters Creek/Chugiak in the Alaska State Legislature.