Eh, I can't remember the last time I needed to show my social security card. It might have been 2006, when I moved to this state. It's EXTREMELY rare that we need the physical card. We need the number more often, but most people will have memorized that.
Still, you cannot change the number and it's a disaster if it leaks, which is very easy. Instead, our country uses IDs with chips that can be used with standard readers to securely authenticate with government and private services online. There is also a changeable PIN and optional third-factor authentication. People who cannot or don't want to use the system need to visit the institution or a CzechPoint site and show the physical card and their face.
Yeah. In our case it's worth noting that the social security number system wasn't designed to be used the way it is used. It was just meant for retirement tracking.
Now if we tried what you described, we'd probably have people screeching about the number of the beast and new evil Democrat deep state conspiracy theories. Sigh.
If you pitch it as “authority of a driver's license combined with the convenience and security of a chip-based credit card”, it may not be hard to get people on board. It might help to bundle it with benefits such as more automated direct tax filing.
Our country’s post office operates a Datová schránka (“Digital Mailbox”) system where you can basically send email-like messages to people, businesses and institutions that carry the authority of registered mail but delivered in a minute and 10x cheaper. This is optional for individuals and mandatory for businesses, and you need to authenticate with your ID card online or at post offices (which also accept driver's licenses and passports) to access it (though you can get email/SMS notifications of new mail). The cost is there to limit spam, and to send a message, you need to know the recipient’s address (public for companies, private for individuals unless they choose to publish it). Most people don't use it but businessmen love the speed and reduction in paperwork. Because right-wing people tend to adore business efficiency and this makes contracts fast and secure, this might help the US ID adoption too.
ukraine just relies on electronic signatures (usually issued by banks) for online identity verification. (these are usually just jks keystores)
you can put them on hardware keys if you want to
alternatively, bankid or diia can be used
bankid pulls info directly from your bank, using online banking credentials
diia is an electronic ID app and comes with built-in identity verification and signing features (authenticated by biometry/phone pin + a face scan with specified action (e.g. blink or tilt your head) + 5 digit pin).
the app can be activated by scanning the NFC chip in passport or id card + doing a face scan, or by using the BankID system. (if you already have a bank account, or your phone doesn't support nfc), which is slightly faster as the face scan is quite annoying (as it requires perfect lighting conditions)
the key used by the app cannot be exported tho, if you need a jks keystore, the only option is to get one from the bank.
(By the way, the app's name, "дія," is quite clever. It stands for "action," but it's actually an acronym for "держава і я" which translates to "government and me.")
I need it for filling out I9s. There is probably an easier way but driver's license of social security card is the easiest way for me. If I had a passport that would work too.