"And in that eastern european voice I hear 'papers please'"
May Western Europe countries have ID cards without people complaining. We can even use them to travel abroad in some countries without any need to request a more expensive and bulky passport (which is still an ID system). and can be issued to people who don't or can't have a driving license as an alternative ID system (and why do you accept a drive license card that identifies you??).
In many counties, having one is optional - but still you may need to prove who you are, sometimes, and that's the simplest way and commonly accepted way, no need of other proofs like driving licenses, bank statements, utility bills, etc. etc.
The State already have all of your data, printing it on a card to speed up some identifying tasks is just making things simpler. Being detained while the police identifies you and takes your fingerprints without actually being indicted for a crime is far more invasive.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
