Unintended consequences (Jack Grant)

It appears that the immigration reform laws of the 1980s that required employers to obtain and verify Social Security numbers of newly hired employees has had the unintended consequence of creating an industry of Social Security number identity theft.  The linked article makes for disturbing and somewhat frightening reading.

The patchwork system of taxation, credit reports, employment records, educational transcripts, and other important information that all use the Social Security number as the primary means of identification has resulted in more and more people having their entire lives dramatically affected because of misuse and abuse.

This may be a larger crisis than other, more highly touted crises currently being flogged.