Real ID

[MAC_Pixie04]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruby_Woo I asked about that at the DMV, and they said that in California its already into effect. That all that it is, is that now the information is accurate. It is verified to be accurate. Before you could put down any name, birthdate and stuff and just get an ID now your SSN is verified to be valid, and your information is also verified. I was told that no seperate ID will be issued.

It's not in effect until May 2009, but it has been finalized. California's been asking for extensions since the Act passed in 2005. Essentially they're taking more measures to verify the information that will be input to your new national ID card, and also the legitimacy of any documents you use to prove your identity, for example immigration papers will be thoroughly verified for legitimacy. In Texas, the ID cards for immigrants look different from those of US citizens and the information on them is more indepth to verify their status.

It won't be a separate ID card; when your current one expires, the new one issued to you will follow national standards set by the Real ID Act, so you won't be carrying two ID cards, your one DL or ID card will simply mean much more now and on a bigger scale.

 

[ratmist]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dizzy I really wish they'd stop using terrorism as an excuse to stomp on the Constitution. Throwing laws at terrorism doesn't stop it because they don't abide by laws; if they wanted to stop it they'd take action, not making everyone (basically) apply for internal passports. I'm sure with all of the money they take out of our paychecks they could have come up with a better solution than this. Anybody know if this has been or will be challenged in the Supreme Court?

^^^ Everything you just said.

 

[Patricia]

we have id cards in our country, and seriously it's not so bad... but i understand your concerns

 

[Divinity]

Wow. Not a fan. Cameras are bad enough. I passed a sign in Chicago around a construction site that read "This site is under surveilance 24 hours per day." Really? What are you building that needs so much protection? Chicago is the worst for cameras as far as places I've lived. It's like they are monitoring you just for the hell of it!

 

[*Stargazer*]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Divinity Wow. Not a fan. Cameras are bad enough. I passed a sign in Chicago around a construction site that read "This site is under surveilance 24 hours per day." Really? What are you building that needs so much protection? Chicago is the worst for cameras as far as places I've lived. It's like they are monitoring you just for the hell of it!

Actually, theft from construction sites is booming. Copper wire and all that. I'd probably try to protect my property in that situation, too.

 

[AdlersMommy22]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Divinity Wow. Not a fan. Cameras are bad enough. I passed a sign in Chicago around a construction site that read "This site is under surveilance 24 hours per day." Really? What are you building that needs so much protection? Chicago is the worst for cameras as far as places I've lived. It's like they are monitoring you just for the hell of it!

Chitown is bad but Ive been to/lived in a LOT of places in this country and I will tell you something- when it comes to surveilance... Arizona- esp around the Scottsdale/Pheonix area is RIDICULOUS!!!

 

[Ruby_Woo]

Yeah I see what you are all saying, but I just realized something. They have this in Mexico already. For a long time now. Its called " Tarjeta de Elector" which translantes roughly to voters card. But without it you cant vote, cant open bank account, cant do anything if you don't have one pretty much. THey do have a different drivers license which I assume will happen with this too.

I guess if you see from a conspiracy theory point of view it can sound shady. but I dunno, now that I realized other countries have had it, its like, whats the big deal?

 

[Dizzy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruby_Woo but I dunno, now that I realized other countries have had it, its like, whats the big deal?

Bigger than just a conspiracy theory, even many people in gov't have a problem with the Real ID. While the conspiracy theories may be fun to read, the problems and concerns addressed by state-level governing bodies and even the ACLU are real. Some of these concerns are addressed in this thread, other problems, such as Montana's very valid question about who is to fund this debacle, weren't mentioned.

Other countries aren't necessarily set up the way that we are with a strict distribution of powers and responsibility. Mexico, for one, has a government that I'd never envy or attempt to emulate in any fashion. We can't ignore our own separation of powers just because another country has a similar program. What works for them may not always work for us.

 

[Nox]

The more of a "national database" the country has, the less local states can exercise their powers. The more that happens, the more we'll be exposed to the whims of Washington D.C. in one fell swoop, regardless of the impending situation locally. Other countries already have this kind of I.D., but I am not exactly trustful of the U.S. government, they kind of have a bad track record. Every time they've tried to identify a monolithic mass of people, it's always been a problem. (Japanese internment camps, Jim Crow Laws, Chinese Expulsion Act, German descendant segregation towns like New Ulm Minnesota, Sun Down towns, etc.)

I always thought that because the different states have different rules about who can get a license and when, it would not be a good idea to nationalize this.