This won't be much of a diary, and for this I apologize in advance. I know there is an etiquette here that a diary should be more than a few sentences, but this is something that I've really been thinking about lately.
Our baby will be born in October. When that day comes, if it is possible, should we opt out of having him or her given the automatic social security number?
It's always something we can do later, if it seems that it needs to be done. So it's not as if we're committing any great crime here, it is correctable. I myself didn't have one until 8 years old (I'm 35), and I think that was the year that they changed the tax laws so that dependents had to have them.
I know this means I will lose what could be a considerable amount of money each year in that I won't be able to claim our child as a deduction.
There might be problems registering them for public school, if we change our minds and decide not to homeschool.
Most likely, if my child makes it to adulthood without one, they will choose themselves to register and get their number. It would be difficult or impossible to work a traditional job without one, and perhaps even to get a driver's license. Though, even with these things, I would hope that by that time I've bought some land for them that they can work for themselves. A small farmstead.
I'd just like to hear everyone's opinions.