More states are joining the Real ID revolt. This past week, Montana and North Dakota joined Washington, Arkansas, Idaho and Maine in rejecting Bush’s federal government in pursuing and requiring a national ID card masquerading as a standardized driver’s license. Twenty other states are also considering a similar response.
I previously diaried this topic (where there are additional links) but there is an important addition regarding public comments, below.
Unless this law is stopped, a Real ID will be required to fly on commercial aircraft, enter federal buildings and a growing list of other freedoms. The cards will also have a machine-readable component, allowing retailers, airline personnel and others to gain access to your personal information...perhaps all of your personal information. As there are no assurances that the new card can't be counterfeited, this is a identity-thief’s wet dream.
The $23B unfunded cost of the program is anticipated to fall on the backs of the people, boosting the cost of an average driver’s license to $100. It will surely cause all hell to break loose at the typical DMV.
Most impacted by this law will be the poor, senior citizens, native Americans, victims of natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, naturalized citizens, victims of domestic violence, immigrants, people who live in RV’s and homeless people. Unless you go knocking on the doors of all the RV’s, I don’t think you’re going to find many Republicans in this group. To quote Chico Marx, "Wadda coincidence!"
And for what? More security? Hah! Try less privacy, more spying and more identity theft. Remember, it was the Bush Administration that conceived of this plan and will have access to all information.
The Department of Homeland Security is now accepting public comments as required by law. The ACLU has set up a website to assist you in making your feelings known. Members of Congress are likely to pay close attention to the number and viewpoint of comments submitted by the public. By voicing your opinion today, you can make it clear to Congress and the Department of Homeland Security that ordinary Americans oppose this costly, intrusive and meaningless program.
Want a real link? Watch and listen to this career, Chicago firefighter who got caught in the boondoggle of inaccurate data as Illinois attempted to implement parts of the federal law.
As usual, a tip of the cap goes to the ACLU for keeping up the pressure to preserve our constitutional rights.