Comments on: Real ID could mean real travel headaches

A May deadline is just one flash point in a political showdown between Homeland Security and states that oppose Real ID demands.

[eldernorm]

More of the Same from Pres. Bush

"Ve Vill see your papers!" Said the Homeland security,,,, er Nazi soldier to the citizen. :-(

The way the current administration has handled this whole security mess really bothers me. Today I have had more stuff messed with and heard about more theifts of airline luggage by government Homeland Security people than there ever was by commercial companies. You can sue a commercial company, you cannot sue the government.

Maybe if we make every measure that is enacted apply doubly to congressmen than to an average citizen, we would see reasonable measures vs this -BS that passes for security.

Just a sad thought. :-(

[paulej]

Real ID - Indiana Lies!

Indiana states that it plans to comply with the Real ID requirements. Here's the problem: they do not properly verify the identity of people to whom they issue IDs!

The state of Indiana issues three ID cards (one of which was a driver's license) to three different people with my name and SSN! Worse, when they learned about the error, they refused to fix it by removing my SSN from their records.

How can we possibly trust the Real ID system when a this state has clearly been negligent in issuing identity cards in the past?

Here's the brief version of my terrible story:
http://www.arid.us/silverman/

[Thomas, David]

We Can't Learn

I'm old enough to remember when people were made fun of
because they told everyone else that one day they'd have to buy
water.

The idea seemed so implausible, at the time, that even rational
people thought it was humorous. Sad. I guess we really do not
learn from history, not matter how well documented it is.

Now, here we are again, implementing a practice that has shown
to have zero deterrence against real terrorism, and a massive
negative impact upon a free society. Does anyone think you
can travel through Europe, and Asia without "papers"?! Now
compare how many terrorist attacks occur world-wide, and
compare them to here (the USA).

[R.Jefferson]

Just be happy that RFID is off the table (for now)

I dont want to walk next to a billboard and have it remind me to refill my Enzyte and Valtrex prescriptions.

[prizm1]

Slave Card

Why have we allowed ourselves to become tagged like an animal? They say that the terrorists attacked us for our freedoms, but the terrorists win when Americans are tracked like cattle by the government. Do you need a license to be a free American?

[dargon19888]

What hassles?

First, if you're traveling, using your passport as your primary id for *all* air travel makes sense. I have less hassles at the airport because all TSA agents know what a US passport looks like. Each state has a different ID and its possible that if you're using a drivers license from NY, a TSA agent in KS would have no idea if you presented a good forgery.

While I can understand the technical challenges regarding RealID, the story is based on the premise of travel restrictions that can easily be avoided by using a passport.

I've done a lot of air travel over time, and my worst security issue was in May of '98. At least now, the TSA agents speak and understand English. ;-)

The worst thing about getting through a security checkpoint is trying to put your briefcase back together and get your shoes on quickly so you don't hold up the line behind you. ;-)

[jestnokc]

Makes Sense To You

Well, you sound like someone who has to travel a lot, however, you are not taking into concideration the people who do not travel often. The cost of a passport is nearly $100.00 now and waiting times to receive your passport are outragous. Why should people who are traveling domesticly be required to have a document that is intended for international travel? You say a TSA agent would have trouble spotting a fake ID from another state than they currently reside, this could be farther from the truth, because they are trained on what to look for on ID's that validate that they are genuine. This is a real nightmare, both of your arguments are bunk. The Real ID is a mess and will create problems for travelers as well as the struggling airline business. You may have though 2007 was a mess with delays and cancelations just wait until this goes into effect when flights from states that are refusing to use the Real ID are cancelled and that incoming flight from Oklahoma was going to be your connecting flight.

[CLEAR-SEER]

REAL ID / RFID - "THE RABID WOLF in cloned, sheep clothing"

If I may wax a little conspiratoy/religious for a bit.
Anyone else in this land of supposedly free-thinking, freedom loving, pursuit-of-happiness striving folk see this for the theft of individuality and in-alienable rights that it is!

This is just one more step in the larger plan of TOTAL CONTROL of the populus. Every possible slippery-slope scenario to that aim can be more readily achieved when the most basic of our civil liberties and rights are so easily trumped for "Security's sake". Boy we the people and our elected representatives are easily manipulated.
This is only one of the many seemingly harmless, and "safety-enhancing" measures we have seen (and there are many more "refinements" to come).

On the matter of religion... MARK OF THE BEAST anyone. Get ready, the marks are coming to a DMV,
EMPLOYER, GROCERY STORE, AIRLINE/SUBWAY, etc. near you. WAKE UP AMERICANS, and do something!!

[CLEAR-SEER]

SLIPPERY SLOPE - I hope THEY won't read this

Technologies/Programs I hope will never be used:

1 RFID chip implants at, or even before, birth
2 Socialist(ized) healthcare
3 Genetic screening (children,employment,credit)
4 Human cloning (!@#$)...too late its in progress
5 RFID in passports (!@#$)... too late also
6 Police State --- on its way

[kberta]

sick to my stomach

I am neither a religious zealot ... nor a doomsday-r (yes I know its not a word)... nor a conspiracy theorist ... but I understand all three and it makes me sick to think that people can't see. It doesn't matter which you apply religious, conspiracy or whatever ... they all scream "THIS IS BAD" "SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT HERE" I am not against our government I just don't like the decisions they are making. People need to question ... understand the impact on their lives. Screw the terrorist think about yourselves! Plus if this keeps happening the terrorist won by us loosing our freedoms ... we will be right there with them. Repressed, depressed and looking for a way out or someone to blame for our problems.

[kberta]

are you friggin kidding me! Slave card/hints of ussr all over again

All the comments listed regarding, population movement, slave card, welcome to life in USSR (joking about USSR) I cant believe how spoon fed those of you who don't see that this is a real issue? Why cant we use a Drivers License? Here in Florida there are so many seals and photos, etc., how is a friggin bar code going to keep some crazed terrorist from doing what he wants to do? Am I the only one who sees how ridiculous this is? How long before we have to show Id to cross a state line? Don't laugh or say it would never happen ... income taxes were to be temporary ... social security numbers were only to be for those retiring.... WAKE up people. I am not that old (35 to be exact) but I read in school I listened to history. This is very wrong! At this rate its only a matter of time where we are no longer a democracy but a socialistic society or worse.... Show me how this "BAR CODE" is going to improve my life and safety? Now we are all numbers -- might as well tattoo them on my arm (OK extreme but I thought this was America?) I can tell you what it will effect... The economy! Great just what we need.... Funny cuz I was a bush supporter and a pro-choice republican but after all these "acts" that erode our freedoms I might have to give up more income tax dollars (fire some staff since Im going to be paying more taxes to keep my freedome) go democrat, join the NAACP & what ever else it takes just to keep my freedoms and those of my children. This is really scary stuff....