Originally Posted by
David Merrill
I think that mental model is faulty. At best, faulty.
The birth certificate is good for a driver license and that will tell a creditor who you are, for credit purposes. That and a good job, with a good credit history used to get you a nice loan... Now you don't need much more than being alive though.
That is what a birth certificate is worth; how much you can convince the car dealer or loan officer that is what it is worth - that you are good to pay back the loan plus the interest.