arstechnica.com— Multiple states have now passed resolutions opposing the federal Real ID Act that would impose national standards on drivers' licenses and require states to link their databases.
Feb 8, 2007View in Crawl 4
The bad part is the database connection that is going on behind the scenes. One of the things that makes this country strong, and resistant to anti-freedom measures, is our individuality. Part of this is separation between the States. Notice how each State in America has a unique flavor, history, values and economic development rate? That's how it should be; the more each of us, States included, can stand on our own two feet without Uncle Sam holding our hands, the stronger and greater this country will be. Keeping things separate, distributed if you will, is not a weakness for the bad guys to exploit, it's a strength that keeps the Real Big Bad Boys from converting us into doomed neo-serfs. Hah...you all think the days of the JP Morgan style robber barons are over? Think the Lords and Ladies enjoyed losing their seats at the top of the pile? Think again, and then get out and help where you can. It's getting down to the wire.<a class="user" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REAL_ID_Act">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REAL_ID_Act</a><a class="user" href="http://www.realnightmare.org/">http://www.realnightmare.org/</a>
@craig870"We have I.D.'s We have drivers license, personal I.D.'s etc. all issued by the various states that we live in."Do you really know what a valid ID from each of the 50 states looks like? I am on the west coast and have never seen a Rhode Island ID. If all the states would agree to use a common format that would at least help out.
ID cards are a smokescreen for the database. Over here in the UK we are going to have to endure blanket fingerprinting and DNA sampling. I'd imagine when everyone is on the database the Government will yield and drop the unpopular ID cards, but keep the data. It doesn't matter if you refuse to carry your ID card, in the UK the police have been trialling mobile fingerprinting scanners (how much longer for DNA). If you refuse to be scanned, you get arrested, fingerprinted and DNA sampled back at the police station to be put on the PNC database.
RealID has good sides and bad. Standardizing documents is the good side. Cops shouldn't have to memorize driving restriction codes are for 50 states+DC. Also all DLs should have a picture.The down sides though are worse: DHS makes the rules, data collected and saved is shared with Canada & Mexico and lastly, social security numbers are involved.Congress should have created goals and gave them to a committee made up of the universities, EFF, ACLU, FOP, FBI and state governors, and said give us a solution.The FACT that SSNs are traded on street corners should have been a red flag on any ID system created solely by the government.
@thebaron2That wasn't smartassed at all, and it deserves a response. Here's the scenario: If you are mandated to carry or use a national ID, there must be a penalty for not using it, otherwise who would go through the trouble of getting one? Either you will be detained from going about your business until you are "properly identified", or you will be refused entry into a public (or private) area and/or refused the service provided.While those might seem reasonable conditions, you must remember, we are able to go about our business today, right now, without a national ID. Also, not too long ago, you could fly commercial airliners without ID. Just a short time ago, you only needed a drivers license to travel to pass international borders from the US to Canada and back.A passport is internationally accepted ID, we don't need another one for Homeland Security and their secret motives, do we?
Real ID is bad for the law abiding. Most of the so-called terrorist had real ID, what did that change? The government knows this, so Real ID is just a fraud on the people.
protean1Feb 9, 2007
The bad part is the database connection that is going on behind the scenes. One of the things that makes this country strong, and resistant to anti-freedom measures, is our individuality. Part of this is separation between the States. Notice how each State in America has a unique flavor, history, values and economic development rate? That's how it should be; the more each of us, States included, can stand on our own two feet without Uncle Sam holding our hands, the stronger and greater this country will be. Keeping things separate, distributed if you will, is not a weakness for the bad guys to exploit, it's a strength that keeps the Real Big Bad Boys from converting us into doomed neo-serfs. Hah...you all think the days of the JP Morgan style robber barons are over? Think the Lords and Ladies enjoyed losing their seats at the top of the pile? Think again, and then get out and help where you can. It's getting down to the wire.<a class="user" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REAL_ID_Act">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REAL_ID_Act</a><a class="user" href="http://www.realnightmare.org/">http://www.realnightmare.org/</a>
spoid_Feb 9, 2007
@craig870"We have I.D.'s We have drivers license, personal I.D.'s etc. all issued by the various states that we live in."Do you really know what a valid ID from each of the 50 states looks like? I am on the west coast and have never seen a Rhode Island ID. If all the states would agree to use a common format that would at least help out.
kag9000Feb 9, 2007
ID cards are a smokescreen for the database. Over here in the UK we are going to have to endure blanket fingerprinting and DNA sampling. I'd imagine when everyone is on the database the Government will yield and drop the unpopular ID cards, but keep the data. It doesn't matter if you refuse to carry your ID card, in the UK the police have been trialling mobile fingerprinting scanners (how much longer for DNA). If you refuse to be scanned, you get arrested, fingerprinted and DNA sampled back at the police station to be put on the PNC database.
Closed AccountFeb 9, 2007
Is it just me, or is V for Vendetta looking more and more accurate as each day passes?
dracostimpyFeb 9, 2007
@iTorreyLooks like the tinfoil hat brigade is... nah just kidding. Wonderful comment. +Friend.
schwitFeb 10, 2007
RealID has good sides and bad. Standardizing documents is the good side. Cops shouldn't have to memorize driving restriction codes are for 50 states+DC. Also all DLs should have a picture.The down sides though are worse: DHS makes the rules, data collected and saved is shared with Canada & Mexico and lastly, social security numbers are involved.Congress should have created goals and gave them to a committee made up of the universities, EFF, ACLU, FOP, FBI and state governors, and said give us a solution.The FACT that SSNs are traded on street corners should have been a red flag on any ID system created solely by the government.
Closed AccountFeb 10, 2007
@thebaron2That wasn't smartassed at all, and it deserves a response. Here's the scenario: If you are mandated to carry or use a national ID, there must be a penalty for not using it, otherwise who would go through the trouble of getting one? Either you will be detained from going about your business until you are "properly identified", or you will be refused entry into a public (or private) area and/or refused the service provided.While those might seem reasonable conditions, you must remember, we are able to go about our business today, right now, without a national ID. Also, not too long ago, you could fly commercial airliners without ID. Just a short time ago, you only needed a drivers license to travel to pass international borders from the US to Canada and back.A passport is internationally accepted ID, we don't need another one for Homeland Security and their secret motives, do we?
bobt12May 14, 2007
Real ID is bad for the law abiding. Most of the so-called terrorist had real ID, what did that change? The government knows this, so Real ID is just a fraud on the people.