Version: 2008

Comments on: Homeland Security offers details on Real ID

States have until 2013 to federalize licenses; rules don't require encryption on new IDs to protect drivers' privacy.

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Adolf
by gggg sssss March 1, 2007 7:06 PM PST
If Adolf had this technology he would not have needed yellow stars.
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big brother here we come
by killr_klown March 1, 2007 8:27 PM PST
we already have cameras everywhere, now this. There are better and easier ways to protect our borders. here's an idea. Why don't you immigration guys start heavily fining companies that hire illegal immigrants. Or just go down to my local meat packing plant with a bus. Terrorists will get around a stupid little card and I imagine it won't be long before those are forged anyway.

This may be broadening the subject but it's a lot like piracy. When companies, or governments, don't trust their own people, or customers by an enacting stupid policies, it makes them criminals in the eye of the law as they find ways around them because they disagree with said policies.

Our government is scared of its own people, and that's not a government I want running the country I live in. I can't wait for 2008. perhaps my little vote will make a change for the better. one can hope right?
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Contact the EFF!
by kyle172 March 1, 2007 8:40 PM PST
Support your freedom support the EFF

From the Internet to the iPod, technologies are transforming our society and empowering us as speakers, citizens, creators, and consumers. When our freedoms in the networked world come under attack, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is the first line of defense. EFF broke new ground when it was founded in 1990 ? well before the Internet was on most people's radar ? and continues to confront cutting-edge issues defending free speech, privacy, innovation, and consumer rights today. From the beginning, EFF has championed the public interest in every critical battle affecting digital rights.

Blending the expertise of lawyers, policy analysts, activists, and technologists, EFF achieves significant victories on behalf of consumers and the general public. EFF fights for freedom primarily in the courts, bringing and defending lawsuits even when that means taking on the US government or large corporations. By mobilizing more than 50,000 concerned citizens through our Action Center, EFF beats back bad legislation. In addition to advising policymakers, EFF educates the press and public. Sometimes just defending technologies isn't enough, so EFF also supports the development of freedom-enhancing inventions.

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Amendment IV
by killr_klown March 1, 2007 8:51 PM PST
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

By the government tracking out every move, which is really what this is all about, pretty much goes against the whole amendment.
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And I'm pretty sure income tax on labor and wages is illegal...
by Mark Greene March 1, 2007 9:06 PM PST
... but what do a constitution or supreme court decisions matter?

Once you've walked over the line (Operation Paperclip, MK ULTRA,
Gulf of Tonkin, to name a few), it's easy to marginalize the loss of
civilian lives or the freedoms of people.
We don't need no stinking badges
by always_thinking March 1, 2007 9:53 PM PST
With the RIFD Chip in your ID you can be located from the air, by a passing vehicle, proximity to specific locations or people can be tracked, banking information, healthcare information and whatever else is put on that chip would be available to anyone having the right equipment to read it. All done without your knowledge - and we think indentity theft and privacy are problems now........
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Yes, but think how quickly an ambulance can find you!
by Mark Greene March 1, 2007 10:20 PM PST
Since tracking is already not going over with the public, I imagine
they'll have to push some other angle, like emergency response.
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One relevant bit of note...
by Had_to_be_said March 1, 2007 11:57 PM PST
>> "States must submit a plan of how they'll comply with the Real ID Act by October 7, 2007. If they don't, their residents will not be able to use IDs to board planes or enter federal buildings starting on May 11, 2008"

In other words...

No... the "Feds" arent actually backing-down one, little, bit. In fact, it appears that they are actually PUSHING-UP the date that States have to declare their intention to COMPLY. Additionally, the DHS is backing up this, latest, imposition with a DIRECT-THREAT against the, States, citizens. I suspect this is due to the, rapidly-mounting, MASSIVELY-OVERWHELMING RESISTANCE, amongst the States and the American-citizenry, to this very, ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING and UTTERLY ANTI-AMERICAN, OBSCENITY.

Sadly, I fear that things are going to get a lot worse, in this country... before they get any better...
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National ID Cards Won't Stop Terrorism or Illegal Immigration.
by Dave_Brown March 2, 2007 6:37 AM PST
National ID Cards Won't Stop Terrorism or Illegal Immigration
May 9, 2005

FROM: http://www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst2005/tst050905.htm

The US House of Representatives passed a spending bill last week that contains provisions establishing a national ID card, and the Senate is poised to approve the measure in the next few days. This week marks the American public’s last chance to convince their Senators they don’t want to live in a nation that demands papers from its citizens as they go about their lives.

Absent a political miracle in the Senate, within two years every American will need a conforming national ID card to participate in ordinary activities. This REAL ID Act establishes a massive, centrally-coordinated database of highly personal information about American citizens: at a minimum their name, date of birth, place of residence, Social Security number, and physical characteristics. The legislation also grants open-ended authority to the Secretary of Homeland Security to require biometric information on IDs in the future. This means your harmless looking driver’s license could contain a retina scan, fingerprints, DNA information, or radio frequency technology.

Think this sounds farfetched? Read the REAL ID Act, HR 418, for yourself. Its text is available on the Library of Congress website. A careful reading also reveals that states will be required to participate in the “Drivers License Agreement,” which was crafted by DMV lobbyists years ago. This agreement creates a massive database of sensitive information on American citizens that can be shared with Canada and Mexico!

Terrorism is the excuse given for virtually every new power grab by the federal government, and the national ID is no exception. But federal agencies have tried to create a national ID for years, long before the 9-11 attacks. In fact, a 1996 bill sought to do exactly what the REAL ID Act does: transform state drivers’ licenses into de facto national ID cards. At the time, Congress was flooded with calls by angry constituents and the bill ultimately died.

Proponents of the REAL ID Act continue to make the preposterous claim that the bill does not establish a national ID card. This is dangerous and insulting nonsense. Let’s get the facts straight: The REAL ID Act transforms state motor vehicle departments into agents of the federal government. Nationalizing standards for driver's licenses and birth certificates in a federal bill creates a national ID system, pure and simple. Having the name of your particular state on the ID is meaningless window dressing.

Federally imposed standards for drivers' license and birth certificates make a mockery of federalism and the 10th amendment. While states technically are not forced to accept the federal standards, any refusal to comply would mean their residents could not get a job, receive Social Security, or travel by plane. So rather than imposing a direct mandate on the states, the federal government is blackmailing them into complying with federal dictates.

One overriding point has been forgotten: Criminals don’t obey laws! As with gun control, national ID cards will only affect law-abiding citizens. Do we really believe a terrorist bent on murder is going to dutifully obtain a federal ID card? Do we believe that people who openly flout our immigration laws will nonetheless respect our ID requirements? Any ID card can be forged; any federal agency or state DMV is susceptible to corruption. Criminals can and will obtain national ID cards, or operate without them. National ID cards will be used to track the law-abiding masses, not criminals.


Dave
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Amen!
by AsleepAtTheGravelSwitch March 2, 2007 4:05 PM PST
Amen! Bro. Brown.
Now if we could only get our Congressmen and Representatives to understand the concept that If they ain't law-abiding to start with, they ain't gonna fall in line no matter what.
I kin this to the new colorful paper money that was going to stump the counterfitters. I have heard of more bad bills being passed since there inception that ever before. And quite a few were made with home scanner/printer.
Just think what a industrious computer-savve kid could do with a few bibs-and-bobs from the local computer store. Junior could scan everyone who passes by his home-made RFID scanner.
Oh well...back to the drawing board.
Homeland Security is a Sham!!
by 911truthdotorg March 2, 2007 7:51 AM PST
It's not about our security, it's ALL about our control!

The liar-in-chief has no intention of securing the borders. Exactly the opposite.

Google "The North American Union" and see what you find. Lou Dobbs on CNN is all over this!

He made a secret deal with Canada and Mexico to build a superhighway from Mexico up to Canada to bypass our own ports. They'll truck goods up from Mexico to destroy the longshoreman unions and flood this country with cheap labor and destroy the middle class once and for all.

Once that is complete, the United States of America will cease to exist.

With this Real ID Act, they're going to set up check points all over the country.

We need to stop this before it's too late!!!!
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Homeland Security is a SHAM!!!
by 911truthdotorg March 2, 2007 8:44 AM PST
It's not about our security, it's ALL about our control!

The liar-in-chief has no intention of securing the borders. Exactly the opposite.

Google "The North American Union" and see what you find. Lou Dobbs on CNN is all over this!

He made a secret deal with Canada and Mexico to build a superhighway from Mexico up to Canada to bypass our own ports. They'll truck goods up from Mexico to destroy the longshoreman unions and flood this country with cheap labor and destroy the middle class once and for all.

Once that is complete, the United States of America will cease to exist.

With this Real ID Act, they're going to set up check points all over the country.

We need to stop this before it's too late!!!!

I urge you to watch the Google videos:
Freedom to Fascism
9/11 Press for Truth
9/11 Mysteries
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Extracting money from happily distracted people
by Mark Greene March 2, 2007 9:40 AM PST
That's the bottom line.

Do yourself and your family a favor and throw out your TV and
avoid commercial radio.
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Must include address ?
by densbtly March 2, 2007 12:27 PM PST
Why? Why should this fascist abomination require clear-text name, address, or anything else on it that can be so easily abused?.... if it is inevitable that we must bend over the chair and take this, why not just have the thing coded with a 900 byte (whatever) mixed case alpha-numeric code, non-sequential meaning the vast majority of possible combinations will never be used... then leave off the last 4, 6, 8, or whatever characters to be a PIN entered by the dutiful citizen for commercial activities, and unknown to gvmnt agencies.. Gvmnt agencies will still have their big-brother databases based on need... Want to get on a plane? Zip/lookup/photo match.... done.
The card (and the plane) can still be hijacked though...(box knives and valid yet forged ID's anyone?) thus the 'security' it provides like all these cattle-tagging schemes is the government's security, not the cattle's.

db
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Can you say....RFIF Chips in your hands are next!
by simba555 March 2, 2007 1:06 PM PST
Yup, they are giving you this handy dandy national ID card with all your info on there right there for anyone to steal, or abuse...or hack into...so they can just say " HEY maybe this is a bad idea....maybe we should just implant the RFID chip right into your hand or your forehead...that will be much safer..."Funny thing is, i will bet you any money, they will put it in your RIGHT hand or your forehead just like the Bible says will happen in the last days...during the Trubulation when the antichrist is ruling...there will be a mark in your right hand or forehead ...WITHOUT WHICH YOU CANNOT BUY OR SELL ANYTHING...GEE doesnt this sound like that ....its a perfect set up folks!! Watch its really happening..We are living in the last days...This is the so called "Mark of the best"...not yet, but when they decide there are too many abususes w/ the card version..they will make it a mandatory CHIP implant in your hand or forehead only...Its already being done today!!
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Another generation
by AsleepAtTheGravelSwitch March 2, 2007 4:23 PM PST
I agree with you Bro./Sis. simba555. But I think it will take 1-2 more generations before the government can shear that sheep. There are too many old school, freedom-loving radicals left that will raise up a ruckus. BUT... they are indoctrinating the younger generation. How many 20-somethings carry cash? They all have credit or debit cards. So when the time is right they will accept the chip implants without question. It will be easier for them to scan their hand for that cinema ticket than to fumble through they're pocket for a plastic card.
"Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth thrown in. Aim at Earth and you get neither."-CS Lewis
Homeland Security ?.
by crzylady1 March 3, 2007 11:11 AM PST
Socialism here we come!
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Spell check
by wcweir3 March 4, 2007 6:33 AM PST
Some possible good points here but could you use spell check next time?
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We don't need no stinkin' spell check!
by AsleepAtTheGravelSwitch March 5, 2007 12:30 PM PST
It takes all the fun out of colorful language. Besides these comments come from the outrage felt by the participants. Sometimes words flow faster from the mind than the hands can type. I would rather read a piece written with passion and a few misspelled words than a carefully crafted, correctly spelled piece of equine fecal matter. <grin>
Bad Idea
by wbenton March 5, 2007 3:16 PM PST
>>>businesses like bars and banks that require ID would be capable of scanning and recording customers' home addresses.<<<

You forgot to mention that stolen or legally purchased scanning devices can ALSO read that information and automatically save it into a database.

And then that database can be either hacked or stolen.

And... well it's all history... no need to repeat every mistake that's already been made to know that this will just be a repeat of another bad idea.

They trade off encryption due to complexity. Actually, it's NOT that complex. For one to decrypt the info, they would have to validate themselves with a reputable source first. The technology is already out there and not really that complex.

But what about the other issues I mentioned above...

Bottom Line: It's a bad idea the way they're currently trying to implement it!!!

Walt
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RFID
by onecant March 5, 2007 6:24 PM PST
Take a stand for our national freedoms,stand against the national ID.
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Saddened about Super ID Cards
by jefframse March 29, 2007 4:55 PM PDT
Saddened that this make sense to the authorities.

They may say that the information will only be used for limited purposes. That the collection of personal data will not be abused.

Remember when they passed the National Income Tax over Christmas vacation in 1913 and that it would not be abused and only used on a limited scale? Well the times changed and for apparently human tendency based reasons the application of income tax laws has expanded well into the realms that the original sponsors said would not happen. Remember when those extremists cautioned against passing the ERA amendment in the early 70's stating that socially extreme outcomes would possibly result from its passage? Well, even without the ERA amendment there have been many single sex "marriages" in many locations in our country. The one thing that is for sure is that things will change. Change happening over time is the one thing that will not change. So, if we think that we can pass a Super ID Card system and that this mass of private information go untouched, unused, and stay perfectly safe from the bad guys we are blythely deluding ourselves. Changing reasons to use the tools that are there to be used is the one certainty that we can be sure of. It may start out that the amassment of data about our transactions and control of our behaviors based on the requirement that we use our Super ID card will lay dormant for a time. But there will come a time when reasons to access and use this data above and beyond the original reasons stated for its implementation will occur. Change is for sure not going to change. Using the tools of power at their fingertips will happen even though the authorities may say that they will not do so in the future.

If and When they implement this national ID card system, I will abide by it and give up the privacy of my actions that this system will track and record. I will say aloud however that this course of action is rife with dangers and we must not be made to fear saying so due to such an opinion being politically incorrect or unpatriotic. I believe Voltaire said something to the effect, 'I may disagree with you but I will defend your right to say your differing opinion'.

We should work harder with the information gathering methods that we already have in place, and build character and integrity in our citizens in order to stop the bad guys from breaking the law. I do not support the proposed Super ID cards for law abiding citizens. That is a dangerous road to travel.
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homeland security
by grumpyronda May 6, 2007 8:37 PM PDT
So, Do you people still believe that you live in a free country? If so its just a matter of time before you wake the heck up!!!! Then your TOO LATE well its already to late and no one to blame but ourselves for letting it happen in the first place.
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This is not a big deal
by rjpotts May 8, 2007 3:34 PM PDT
This is not a big deal because:

a) the IRS already has your home address so you are not giving out anything new here

b) your state BMV already has your home address and puts it on your driver's license, this is just setting a standard so that it can be read in a national database

c) the only reason someone would not want to reveal this information is if you have something to hide such as you are a criminal or illegal immigrant in which case you need to be in jail or deported

There a number of benefits to having this.

a) it will make it easier to id your remains when you get mangled in a car accident

b) if tied into a national medical database it could insure that you receive better medical attention in the event that you are unable to give information to emergency responders (think Katrina, Rita, and 9/11)

c) it will make it easier to identify illegals and criminals which need to either be deported or locked up
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You've got to be kidding me
by pauljasonh August 13, 2007 6:39 PM PDT
Why are you so ready to trust other people with your information? This isn't about hiding from the law, it's hiding from a corrupted government. And this was predicted long ago, and no one believed it would happen in the land of the free. Consider Ben Franklin's statement, "Those who would give up some liberty for some safety, deserve neither liberty or safety." Or how about Patrick Henry: "Is life so dear or peace so sweet to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it Almighty God! I know not what others may do but as for me, give me liberty or give me death". One day of free living is better than 100 years of being paranoid for my safety and trusting anyone to protect me. WAKE UP AND FIGHT FOR YOURSELF IF NO ONE ELSE!
Shut up and think about it...
by hounddoglgs May 9, 2007 6:50 AM PDT
.... before you starting running around crying about "big brother" coming to get you. This is NOT a big deal. Every time you show your ID, write a check, etc., you are giving away your home address. Every time you apply for a credit card, your home address is sold to anyone who is buying. DMV records and property deeds are public record. Anyone can look you up, or have a background check done on you. This is dumb- only because it's a waste of time and money. The gov't should set standards to prevent forgery and that's it. I do agree that RFID is a bad idea, because then you can be identified by anyone without even taking your wallet out of your pocket.

Besides, your privacy can't possibly be any further compromised than what is already happening through the rampant misuse and abuse of your social security number.
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