Ars Technica sums up the present situation with the REAL ID program that the Department of Homeland Security would like to shove down the throat of every single person in the country. In brief, there are now 17 states which have passed resolutions rejecting some or all of the provisions of the REAL ID Act, and so DHS has started backing off of the implementation schedule they originally proposed, moving rom 2008 to 2013. They are also backing off on the degree to which they will enforce the “no-fly” provision for people from states which do not adopt REAL ID standards. Additionally, Congress rejected giving DHS $300 million for the program over the summer. 2013 is TWO whole presidential election cycles away, so the likelihood of REAL ID survivng that far out is pretty weak.
Meanwhile, you don’t have to wait to be vetted by the Gestapo to be allowed to fly. You can pay for the privilege RIGHT NOW. As has been anticipated pretty much since September 12, 2001, there is finally a commercial enterprise that will certify you as a 100% Patriotic Non-Terrorist American Hero. In return for letting them do a full background check on you, they give you a nifty little card that lets you bypass the long security check-in lines at a number of major airports (only an handful right now, but expected to increase) without having to take off half of your clothing and dump everything on your person into a gray plastic tub for X-ray scrutiny. And for this you only have to pay $99.95! Isn’t America wonderful! I can almost guarantee that frequent business travelers will be permanently signing away their right to privacy in DROVES!
I attended one of the committee hearings when Washington was debating the legislation to oppose this and other Homeland Security legislation. I was going to provide testimony if needed, but there were plenty of powerful speakers that did just fine.
I was going to say something about the Nazis using the German national idenity system to kill millions of citizens and maybe mention that it seemed that we are already living with a system where the country can’t keep my credit records straight and protected, and that counting on them to keep accurate and helpful identity papers in proper order is ridiculous.