Sneak Attack On Civil Liberties
Lawmakers yesterday forced what was originally known as the Real ID bill through the House of Representatives; it's scheduled to pass the Senate next week. Didn't hear much debate over this sweeping bill before it passed? That's because there wasn't any.
"While I am heartened that 57 of my colleagues joined me in opposing REAL ID, I am baffled that so many Democrats caved in to the parliamentary tricks of the Republican leadership. Though I have come to expect as much from Republicans, by supporting the conference report in
spite of the REAL ID poison pill, Democrats have abandoned our core values and failed to stand up for the rights to privacy, fair treatment under the law and freedom from persecution upon which our country was founded.
Unfortunately, the dems feed off the corporate trough just as much as the rethugs. And even more unfortunate, political discourse is not a luxury Americans have right now with the Bush/GOP Cabal. I hope nobody believes that this is the America that our forefathers fought for.
probably coming soon to a wallet near you - DHS-mandated driver's license - perhaps including RFID chip
The measure, called the Real ID Act, says that driver's licenses and other ID cards must include a digital photograph, anticounterfeiting features and undefined "machine-readable technology, with defined minimum data elements" that could include a magnetic strip or RFID tag. The Department of Homeland Security would be charged with drafting the details of the regulation.
The Bush administration threw its weight behind the Real ID Act, which has been derided by some conservative and civil liberties groups as tantamount to a national ID card. The White House said in a statement this week that it "strongly supports House passage" of the bill.
States would be required to demand proof of the person's Social Security number and confirm that number with the Social Security Administration. They would also have to scan in documents showing the person's date of birth and immigration status, and create a massive store "so that the (scanned) images can be retained in electronic storage in a transferable format" permanently.
Another portion of the bill says that states would be required to link their DMV databases if they wished to receive federal funds. Among the information that must be shared: All data fields printed on drivers' licenses and identification cards, and complete drivers' histories, including motor vehicle violations, suspensions and points on licenses.
While your at it, stop by the memory hole and behold Reports Purged From the Website of the Civil Rights Commission
to see full versions of almost all deleted reports which are posted; guess what the first one is...