Names and Numbers

Do you remember when Social Security Cards expressly stated on the front of the card that they were not to be used for identification purposes?

It is hard to believe that we did not have to have that number memorized, and to have ready access to it for everything that we did. For all of you born in the mid-forties, you might want to dig out your card to see if your card does in fact state that it is not for I.D. However, I am not going to recommend that you tell your banker you can’t use this for identification, especially if you are hoping to get a loan.

What changed? Has it become more convenient to classify us as a number than a name. What if the government runs out of numbers in the future, how will we know who we are?

Okay, enough of that, but it is hard to believe that not so many years ago cards were seldom given to children, but in our present day we need to have a social security number to present a Savings Bond to a child as a gift.

Will the use of Social Security numbers continue even if the predictions of the end of Social Security comes about?

Did these weird thoughts come to the minds of earlier generations, especially during a political year?

Another thought that was discussed at the coffee table lately - Did our parents see more changes in their lifetimes than we have seen? My folks went from horses to automobiles, telegrams to telephones, and to see a man walk on the moon.

My generation has gone from radio to TV, to internet and air travel. I wonder what things will be “remembered” by my great-grandkids? But in the mean time, keep that Social Security card handy as you never know when you will need it for I.D.