Comments on: Maine rejects Real ID Act

State's legislature overwhelmingly opposes act requiring national digital ID cards, putting Bush administration in a pickle.

[dasman669]

Is it all bad?

Yes and no --

I don't see a problem with verifying that you are who you say you are before getting a drivers license. Makes common sense to me.

Common standards to a drivers license makes sense (the drivers license is already the defacto "National ID"). State's change their DL license designs regularly (PA has changed design each time I've renewed for the last 15-20 years). To have a single, coherent layout and appearance between states only makes sense. The cop in New Jersey doesn't have to know what a New Mexico license looks like or whether it's a fake -- they should all be similar, identifiable and with the same "anti counterfeit" measures.

It wouldn't even have to cost a significant amount of $$ to implement the above. Have the feds give their design/layout template to the state and when a person goes to renew, they get the new layout instead of the old layout.

However -- RFID chip, bad, horrible, terrifying idea. Whether it's an DL, passport or credit card (the last two are already in use), I can see identity theft running rampant. People can already "clone" a cell phone or hack your PDA if you get too close to them -- how much longer before they are hacking RFID chips? (if they aren't already)

However, a machine readable card that only contains the same personal information that is already printed on the front of the card (ie., name, address, license number, etc) -- I don't see the issue. This is the same thing that is already on your credit/debit card. The info is already there, we're only complaining about the format (alphabet vs barcode vs magnetic strip).

However, the idea that every corner store can swipe the card and a shared national database of what/where/when you do something is created -- that is patently offensive. The card reader should only be available to airport security, customs, police, etc. And then, only to verify that the printed information on the front hasn't been tampered with and/or only to speed up processing (ie., rather than manually copying information from the front -- like if you get a speeding ticket)

No bars, video rentals, banks, hotels, etc., etc. No commercial use of the card reading technology at all.

[dasman669]

Is it all bad?

Yes and no --

I don't see a problem with verifying that you are who you say you are before getting a drivers license. Makes common sense to me.

Common standards to a drivers license makes sense (the drivers license is already the defacto "National ID"). State's change their DL license designs regularly (PA has changed design each time I've renewed for the last 15-20 years). To have a single, coherent layout and appearance between states only makes sense. The cop in New Jersey doesn't have to know what a New Mexico license looks like or whether it's a fake -- they should all be similar, identifiable and with the same "anti counterfeit" measures.

It wouldn't even have to cost a significant amount of $$ to implement the above. Have the feds give their design/layout template to the state and when a person goes to renew, they get the new layout instead of the old layout.

However -- RFID chip, bad, horrible, terrifying idea. Whether it's an DL, passport or credit card (the last two are already in use), I can see identity theft running rampant. People can already "clone" a cell phone or hack your PDA if you get too close to them -- how much longer before they are hacking RFID chips? (if they aren't already)

However, a machine readable card that only contains the same personal information that is already printed on the front of the card (ie., name, address, license number, etc) -- I don't see the issue. This is the same thing that is already on your credit/debit card. The info is already there, we're only complaining about the format (alphabet vs barcode vs magnetic strip).

However, the idea that every corner store can swipe the card and a shared national database of what/where/when you do something is created -- that is patently offensive. The card reader should only be available to airport security, customs, police, etc. And then, only to verify that the printed information on the front hasn't been tampered with and/or only to speed up processing (ie., rather than manually copying information from the front -- like if you get a speeding ticket)

No bars, video rentals, banks, hotels, etc., etc. No commercial use of the card reading technology at all.

[wordnugget]

National ID

When someone makes an attempt to gain control over you, that is the first indication that they are going to abuse you.

[wordnugget]

National ID

When someone makes an attempt to gain control over you, that is the first indication that they are going to abuse you.

[FrankTaylor121950]

The Whole Picture--From the trenches

I have read all the comments. I am NOT a conspiracy theorist (except about the 'grassy knol". I have a few comments of my own:

After spending 14 years (1972-1986) in Law Enforcement, I can state with certainty that the ideas are RARELY really bad. The implementation is where we run into foul territory.

I don't object to a National ID. I object to a national ID that incorporates an RFID that can be read without your knowledge (speedpass, hotel key cards. etc)

Since I am a law-abiding citizen with police training, I know not to violate the laws of our country. (I do drive faster than I should sometimes, so I'm not perfect)

I would therefore, object to having someone able to tell where I was, without me knowing they were shadowing me. That is a violation of my 4th amendment rights, and possibly my 5th amendment rights as well.

Forcing me to have these technologies applied without my knowledge or approval annoys me. In reality, it is not the technology that concerns me, it is the power-hungry individuals who MIGHT misuse the technology, WITHOUT fear of reprisal, that I disrespect.

We live in different times than when I served and protected. Law Enforcement needs different tools today, because the threats and the players are different. As Juvenal wrote "Who Watches the Watchers?".

It is the watchers, empowered and shameless that I fear -- perhaps more than the terrorists.

I will continue to observe and protect, even without a badge -- but I'm not ready to be tracked, the tracking capabilities misused to turn me into a criminal. Not me, not my friends, not my neighbors. Freedom isn't free, but then, government misuse of technology isn't their freedom, their right, either.

Frank Taylor

[FrankTaylor121950]

The Whole Picture--From the trenches

I have read all the comments. I am NOT a conspiracy theorist (except about the 'grassy knol". I have a few comments of my own:

After spending 14 years (1972-1986) in Law Enforcement, I can state with certainty that the ideas are RARELY really bad. The implementation is where we run into foul territory.

I don't object to a National ID. I object to a national ID that incorporates an RFID that can be read without your knowledge (speedpass, hotel key cards. etc)

Since I am a law-abiding citizen with police training, I know not to violate the laws of our country. (I do drive faster than I should sometimes, so I'm not perfect)

I would therefore, object to having someone able to tell where I was, without me knowing they were shadowing me. That is a violation of my 4th amendment rights, and possibly my 5th amendment rights as well.

Forcing me to have these technologies applied without my knowledge or approval annoys me. In reality, it is not the technology that concerns me, it is the power-hungry individuals who MIGHT misuse the technology, WITHOUT fear of reprisal, that I disrespect.

We live in different times than when I served and protected. Law Enforcement needs different tools today, because the threats and the players are different. As Juvenal wrote "Who Watches the Watchers?".

It is the watchers, empowered and shameless that I fear -- perhaps more than the terrorists.

I will continue to observe and protect, even without a badge -- but I'm not ready to be tracked, the tracking capabilities misused to turn me into a criminal. Not me, not my friends, not my neighbors. Freedom isn't free, but then, government misuse of technology isn't their freedom, their right, either.

Frank Taylor

[chatty82]

National ID

Everyone has to live somewhere. A National ID would make it easier for foreigners to fake an "identity". Maine voted against it because they are on a country border.

[chatty82]

National ID

Everyone has to live somewhere. A National ID would make it easier for foreigners to fake an "identity". Maine voted against it because they are on a country border.

[StarchildSF]

RealNightmare.org ACLU Site Worth Checking Out

Three cheers for Maine! At last some state legislators with
the backbone to stand up to Washington's fascism and
reassert a bit of the balance of power in the U.S. between
the states and the federal government.

Now if we could only end gerrymandering and enact term
limits so that more state legislators were more accountable
to the people instead of enjoying their perpetual sinecures,
maybe this kind of thing would happen more often...

[StarchildSF]

RealNightmare.org ACLU Site Worth Checking Out

Three cheers for Maine! At last some state legislators with
the backbone to stand up to Washington's fascism and
reassert a bit of the balance of power in the U.S. between
the states and the federal government.

Now if we could only end gerrymandering and enact term
limits so that more state legislators were more accountable
to the people instead of enjoying their perpetual sinecures,
maybe this kind of thing would happen more often...

[ZombiePenguin]

Poll tax!!!

The thing is a poll tax, because if we dont have one we cant vote, so even if i proved my identity with a million people saying who i am and with my SS card and birth cert, they still wont let you vote

[ZombiePenguin]

Poll tax!!!

The thing is a poll tax, because if we dont have one we cant vote, so even if i proved my identity with a million people saying who i am and with my SS card and birth cert, they still wont let you vote

[cityslicker975]

The begining of the end