I haven't a clue how these things work in America, but I think the whole ID thing would be almst impossible to enforce in Britain.

Example : In the UK we are currently changing the style of our driving licenses to ones that have a picture of the owner on it. To obtain a driving license you need one form of ID; either a passport or a birth certificate.
I do not have a passport because on the only two occasions I left the country, it was on my parents passports, as I was minor.
This leaves me my birth certificate, which is a peice of paper that states where and when I was born, who my mother and father are ( possibly what their professions are ) and the name of the registra.
Should I lose my birth certificate, all I need to do is write to Somerset House, tell them my details and they will issue me a knew one. I don't have to prove that it's my birth certificate that I'm asking for.
So, once I have 'my' birth certificate, I can apply for my driving license. Who ever I am.

I personnally think an ID card would be more of a personal conveniance than any kind of security aid.

TTFN M'Lady P.