Well, with the highest proportion of your citizens (%age) incarcerated in the world - you won't need an ID card system - you'll all be locked up soon
Anyway - the USA is one of the most "controlled" places I've been so far - and I've travelled extensively in China too - may I add...
If anybody thinks issuing a National ID card is going to make your life any easier/safer than it is now - you need to stay off the acid you are taking

Do you think terrorists need an ID card or will be required to have one to travel to the USA? If they do - what difference will it make - the data is only as good as the accuracey of the data stored - do you think that covert operations personnel travel on their own ID papers etc?
I've been to the USA several times and pre-9/11, I actually commented to colleagues at work how disgracefully "slack" airport security was - unfortunately, this proved to be somewhat of an ironic observation
Anyway - National ID's are a good idea in the sense that u can prove who you are and avoid (to some extent) CC fraud etc, etc, however, they will not make your life any safer against terrorism - thats my two pennies worth anyway
