Do you have your Real ID?

A surveillence society. It’s a government who has all the information about it’s citizens and knows where they are at all times. It’s something we’ve thankfully mostly avoided in the United States, but it could be coming faster than you think. Actually, May 11th, 2008.

What is Real ID?
The REAL ID Act of 2005 made a nationwide standard for national ID cards, in the form of state-issued driver licenses. After 2013, older non-REAL ID compliant ID cards would not be accepted to open bank accounts, enter federal buildings, board commercial airlines or trains, or or passports. Not having a government approved ID card so they have all your information would mean you would be an illegal citizen in your own country! It passed in both the House of Representatives and the Senate in 2005. The bill, however, faced no opposition in the Senate, passed 100-0! The reason? Look at the title of the bill:

An act making Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, and for other purposes.

REAL ID was in the text of the bill, along with money for Tsunami Relief, Military Life Insurance, and other things that are widely supported by the people. If a Senate member had voted against the bill, surely their opposition would have run ads saying they “hate the poor tsunami victims”.

What about the Presidential candidates? What do they think?
Of the remaining Presidential candidates who were in Congress at the time this bill was voted on, only Rep. Ron Paul (Republican from Texas) voted against the bill. John McCain, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton all voted for the Senate’s bill. That, however, may not be an accurate measure of their support, since their was much more good stuff in the bill besides the ID act. Let’s see what they say now:
(source)

Sen. Barack Obama:

I do not support the Real ID program because it is an unfunded mandate, and not enough work has been done with the states to help them implement the program.

Here, however, Sen. Obama does not support the ID program not because of the violation of privacy rights, but instead because the states don’t have enough help with it!

Sen. Hillary Clinton:

I believe we need to seriously re-examine Real ID and make changes that take into account legitimate concerns raised by states. I have long expressed concern with the Real ID Act, dating back to its initial consideration in the Senate in the spring of 2005.

Had there been an opportunity to properly consider this legislation, it would have been revealed that the Real ID Act imposes dramatic new burdens on our states and substantially changes our immigration and asylum laws in ways that deserve critical examination.

Among other things, Real ID’s driver’s license provisions impose a massive unfunded mandate on states, while ignoring our broken immigration system.

But there never was an opportunity to consider it properly. Senate Republicans brought this legislation up for a vote without holding hearings or engaging in serious debate, and by tacking it on to an emergency spending bill for our troops. By employing these tactics, Republicans revealed that they were determined to bulldoze this law through without serious discussion.

I support a comprehensive review of Real ID to determine whether its various ID provisions make sense in light of our very real security needs and the challenges facing our states.”

Although Clinton leave it open for debate and further review, it doesn’t specify whether she seriously supports or opposes the idea of a federal ID card. However, she is absolutely correct in saying that many Republicans tried to force it though by tacking it on a bill funding widely supported programs.

Sen. John McCain:

“The 9/11 Commission recommended that the federal government set standards for the issuance of birth certificates and sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses. Consistent with these recommendations, the Real ID act established federal guidelines to prevent fraud in the issuance and acquisition of identity documents. I support full implementation of Real ID but understand that states need to be given enough time and funding to implement the requirements.”

Sen. McCain is the only candidate to fully support REAL ID in it’s current state. Which proves either ignorance or stupidity in the highest magnitude.

Rep. Ron Paul:

“I do not support any Real ID program, and I would seek the repeal of all federal laws mandating a Real ID program. The Real ID Act imposes tremendous costs on state governments, yet any state that opts out will automatically make nonpersons out of its citizens.

The citizens of that state will be unable to have any dealings with the federal government because their ID will not be accepted. They will not be able to fly or to take a train. In essence, in the eyes of the federal government, they will cease to exist.

However, the most objectionable feature of the Real ID Act is that it turns state driver’s licenses into de facto national ID cards, thus facilitating the massive invasion of an American’s privacy, facilitating the growth of the surveillance state, and turning America into the type of country where citizens must always have their ‘papers in order.’”

Rep. Paul speaks the best on this subject. He notes that citizens who don’t have a REAL ID will no longer be able to do dealings with the federal government.

Note we’ve also contacted Kat Swift’s campaign about her opinion of the REAL ID program and we’ll update the article when we get it back.

When is all this going to happen?
Depends by state. Some are already issuing REAL compliant cards. Some have banned the issuing of REAL ID for the exact reasons we’ve talked about above. Most states will have to begin issuing REAL compliant IDs by May 11th, 2008 unless they’ve filed an extension, in which case that date is December 31, 2009. In May 2013, all people with non-REAL ID cards will no longer be allowed to enter federal buildings, get a passport, travel on planes or trains.

You can help. Contact your state legislature and tell them you want them to block REAL ID cards in your state. Support politicians who don’t support REAL ID. And inform your friends, neighbors, and family members about the horrors of REAL ID.