Very good info there Stillakid, Shows that we are getting all worked up for nothing. Just think for a minute, IF they have your name and that in their records a high percentage says that they have your ssn already, just getting all scared of nothing pretty much that they already have, but that brings the question to my mind, why would they need you to give it to them again? Since they have it, why wouldn’t they just use what they have.
I didn’t have to give mine out this year. I handed them my license from last year and then it’s just “copy”. However, if you have to fill in the blanks, they have to ask you for it just to fill in the blank. If they ask you anyway, in my mind it goes right back to what’s being talked about……………..verification. They’ll use it to verify who you are (like a driver’s license) and anything else your info has to get filed in/with or compared to. These days your SSN is used for ID verification A LOT. Ask, verify. Ask, verify…………………it’s a step I’m afraid we’ll have to get used to until it flat out switches to a human id# or the definition of an SSN gets expanded.
I didn’t take any offense – just wanted to be clear for others who are reading this and feel that having a tracking number issued at birth is not necessarily a bad thing. I thought that for fence-sitters who were reading along, an alternative point of view was necessary.
Pretty cool about your ex-neighbor being involved in the liberation of Europe. If you ever have a chance to talk with him again, be sure to tell him “Thank you, and God Bless” from the radical fringe of the EFN message board.
To address Stillakid: Iowa this year started issuing a separate DL# that is explicitly not your SSN unless you specifically ask them to do otherwise. Most people see this as a way of combatting identity theft, but in reality I believe it has more to do with preempting lawsuits by those who disapprove of the illegal use of a person’s SSN for identification purposes. A federal lawsuit could cost the state millions as licenses would be re-issued.
There is even more to the story for those who are truly paranoid about having an SSN as a federal ID number. I was involved in a discussion a few years back where someone mentioned that it is possible to have the IRS issue a tax identification number apart from your social. There are people who essentially have ‘opted out’ of the SS system, although I believe it required jumping through more hoops than what a normal person would be willing to tolerate.
Jeff: I think it’s funny that you used the FBI as an example. In 1994, an audit by the FBI turned up 900 or more personal files as ‘missing’; anyone care to guess where they showed up? My guess is that social security numbers were involved in the retrieval of those files for the odious hell-harpie that ended up having them. That event was a turning point in my life – the first time that I realized that the American power structure did not offer security to political enemies of the powerful.
We should really take this offline to PM’s – seems like we’ve provided enough distraction from real fish-stuff for one week.
Stillakid, when you handed them your license from last year they probaly entered your DNR customer number if it was a WI license.The social security number is only needed for your initial license. After that as long as you have your old license or know your DNR customer number you don’t need to give them your SSN. There is no need to verify a license when you have these unless you give them the wrong number.
Birdman! 
You explained it much better than I but that is exactly what I was eluding to. Thanks for keeping it clear!
Gianni, I agree. Time to put this thread down. Interesting info on the new DL# though. I’ll have to ask you more about it as things progress.
“If it taps once, you’ve got a bite. If it taps twice, you’ve got a wake up call!”
I think everyone made some great points. I’m not into this stuff normally and probably should stay out of it since my knowledge does not compare to most of you guys in the political/historical arena. I have learned a few things, which is why I read here as often as I can.
Gee, all I said was I didn’t like deadbeat dads. 
Social Security numbers in the wrong hands can lead to identity theft. Purchase your license where you are sure of the people you are giving it to.
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