C|NET News has a great writeup on what the effects of REAL ID are going to be to people in different states - depending on whether your state has complied or not.
There are some SERIOUS problems here of course - for example, you may not be able to go visit your representative in Washington DC if you don’t have a REAL ID - which is a clear violation of your right to petition your government.
And of course, today the news broke that the Department of Homeland Security is suggesting that REAL ID might be required to buy medicines that contain pseudophedrine. Of course, this has absolutely nothing to do with the original goal of REAL ID - it’s clear feature creep and the start of that slippery slope thing… that we were promised wouldn’t happen this time (really!).
As usual, the law - as it was originally passed - was supposed to be used to “stop terrorists.” Now it’s expanded to include immigration control, drug restrictions, and a “big stick” to beat down rebellious states - within our own country! States that have the guts to stand up and say “this is wrong, we won’t do it” are being beaten down with the power given to the DHS by the REAL ID Act.
Once again, we have taken another step towards becoming a police state. May I see your papers, please?
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If you like this then please subscribe to the “The ACLU, which opposes the plan on civil liberties grounds, says that the many changes made since the Act was passed [in 2005] nearly ‘negate the original intent of the program.’ ‘DHS is essentially whittling Real ID down to nothing… all in the name of denying Real ID is a failure,’ said ACLU senior legislative counsel Tim Sparapani. ‘Real ID is in its death throes, and any signs of life are just last gasps.’”
I am very glad to hear this. I only hope it’s true.
UPDATE: In case you were living under a rock, here’s all my previous posts on this subject, in case you need to bring yourself up-to-speed.
Let me let Bruce Schneier sum it up for you:
The Department of Homeland Security has published draft rules regarding REAL ID, and are requesting comments. Comments are due today, by 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Please, please, please, go to this Privacy Coalition site and submit your comments. The DHS has been making a big deal about the fact that so few people are commenting, and we need to prove them wrong.
Please people - for the love of God - send in a comment about how utterly wrong this whole idea is. Here is the letter I sent in:
Department of Homeland Security
Attn: NAC 1-12037
Washington, D.C. 20538
RE: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking DHS-2006-0030Dear Secretary Chertoff:
Because a successful implementation of the REAL ID Act creates a de facto national identification system, I write to urge the agency to withdraw the regulations and seek repeal of the REAL ID Act. This attempt to create rules for the establishment of a national identification system is unlawful for the following reasons:
1. The law that created the Department of Homeland Security prohibited a national identification system. By trying to implement REAL ID, the Department of Homeland Security is breaking the law and violating the public trust.
2. The plan will create a massive national identification system without consideration for privacy and security safeguards. It will make it easy for identity thieves, stalkers, and corrupt officials to get access to such personal information as a home address, age, Social Security number, and a digital photo.
3. The regulations endanger the privacy of domestic violence survivors’ personal information, exposing them to stalkers in all 50 states.
Furthermore, it should be obvious that the intended purpose of the REAL ID Act, to “improve the security and lessen the vulnerability of federal buildings, nuclear facilities, and aircraft to terrorist attack,” cannot be realized through this legislation. Knowledge of IDENTITY does not give us knowledge of INTENT.
Respectfully submitted,
Keith M. Survell
Take action. Don’t sit on this. Make your voice heard - in this case, it can be! Don’t let the United States of America become a police state. A national ID is wrong and is counter to the principles upon which this country was founded. This act must be stopped!