"Real ID" - Federal "Big Brother"

[Eldanen]

Federal ID plan raises privacy concerns - CNN.com

(CNN) -- Americans may need passports to board domestic flights or to picnic in a national park next year if they live in one of the states defying the federal Real ID Act.

The act, signed in 2005 as part of an emergency military spending and tsunami relief bill, aims to weave driver's licenses and state ID cards into a sort of national identification system by May 2008. The law sets baseline criteria for how driver's licenses will be issued and what information they must contain.

[Athenian200]

That article makes me nervous. It feels like someone trying to control everyone. I'm glad so many states are currently refusing, but I don't know if they'll be able to hold out long after the deadline. It reminds me too much of those horror stories about a world government that can track everyone and everything. Is there anything that can be done to work against it?

[heart]

Originally Posted by athenian200

That article makes me nervous. It feels like someone trying to control everyone. I'm glad so many states are currently refusing, but I don't know if they'll be able to hold out long after the deadline. It reminds me too much of those horror stories about a world government that can track everyone and everything. Is there anything that can be done to work against it?

People have been warning about this sort of thing for a very long time now and been called tin foil beenie for their efforts. Most people are more worried about being made fun of as a conspriacy theorist than worried about losing their rights. If that doesn't change, then no, there is not much that can be done about the issue.

They will package the control of people into something hip and trendy and people will line up for it like trained dogs and it is gonna be super sickening when they do.

[Metamorphosis]

I like how it said that it wouldn't be mandatory for state's to do it. I imagine that is similar to how it isn't mandatory for a state to have the legal drinking age at 21. I see the logic in it, but it could be a step in the wrong direction. Overall, I would say that more details are needed for me to have a strong opinion one way or the other.

[The_Liquid_Laser]

Originally Posted by heart

They will package the control of people into something hip and trendy and people will line up for it like trained dogs and it is gonna be super sickening when they do.

This sounds like a description for your average television advertisement. It's already happened. Now if you'll excuse me I have some hip and trendy products which I wish to consume.