For that, all they need is a unique identifying number. Those are easy to generate. Lots of businesses that once used Social Security numbers as identifiers have replaced them with their own customer IDs. Federal agencies can, too.

This isn't a technical challenge. It requires a technical fix, but it's far easier than Y2k or Sarbanes-Oxley. Mainly it's a political problem: You lawmakers will have to find the will to do it.

So let's shave away the excuses.

Forget about some grand, unpassable law banning commercial use of Social Security numbers. Just tighten things up at federal agencies. That way you don't have to face lobbyists sobbing that their keepers can't afford the cost, or think-tankers whining about government interference in the private sector.

Forget about arguments that limiting use of Social Security numbers will hamstring law enforcement. If the FBI, CIA, NSA and IRS need to use them, they can. VA bureaucrats aren't on that list.