The following is my LTE response to the Mobile Press-Register's editorial dismissing those who oppose REAL ID as tin-hatted loons. If you've written one post it in the comments.
Dear Editor,
When I read "The federal ID law isn't strong enough" 4/09 I didn't know whether to laugh hysterically or get sick. Taking it seriously wasn't an option. Who could possibly take seriously the notion that we'll all be safer if we just turn our most private information over to the government and let them keep it secure in order to 'protect us'?
How are they going to keep it secure?
Let's take a moment and look at some of the other programs the federal government has created under the Department of Homeland Security and see how well they have worked.
Transportation Security Administration - I can no longer fly with a tube of toothpaste over 3 ounces yet, there have been numerous instances of passengers getting box cutters onto planes since the inception of TSA. In May of last year 100,000 personnel records were stolen from the TSA database.
The No Fly List - A list currently containing over 300,000 names of what are supposed to be suspected terrorists. There have been numerous misidentification's involving nuns, infants and members of Congress. One instance involved a veteran pilot for American Airlines. U.S. customs agents have stopped him about 80 times since 2003.
FEMA - Do I really need to explain that one? Their slogan should be "It's not a disaster until we get there."
All of those agencies fall under the Department of Homeland Security. Guess who will be overseeing the REAL ID program?
Clearly, the concerns raised by Rep. Cam Ward and others about REAL ID are anything but 'imaginary' as the editorial writer so disrespectfully stated. And I'd much rather be considered 'a liberal or libertarian who sees jackbooted federal boogeymen hiding in the bushes' than a government-loving, boot-licker like the one who wrote that editorial swill.
Respectfully Submitted for publication,
Loretta Nall
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17 hours ago
4 comments:
Re: "The federal ID law isn't strong enough" in the April 9 edition of the Press-Register.
Your editorialist contends that, "Tamper-proof ID cards would largely solve two national problems -- unchecked illegal immigration and the menacing movement of terrorists across international borders." I disagree. With our borders not secured, terrorists can easily enter the country 24/7 without going through any checkpoint where an ID would be required. Only if they had to go through a checkpoint would Real ID provide any security at all.
I suggest your editorialist go to http://www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst2005/tst050905.htm where, among other things, Congressman Ron Paul wrote the following:
"Federally imposed standards for drivers' license and birth certificates make a mockery of federalism and the 10th amendment. While states technically are not forced to accept the federal standards, any refusal to comply would mean their residents could not get a job, receive Social Security, or travel by plane. So rather than imposing a direct mandate on the states, the federal government is blackmailing them into complying with federal dictates.
One overriding point has been forgotten: Criminals don't obey laws! As with gun control, national ID cards will only affect law-abiding citizens. Do we really believe a terrorist bent on murder is going to dutifully obtain a federal ID card? Do we believe that people who openly flout our immigration laws will nonetheless respect our ID requirements? Any ID card can be forged; any federal agency or state DMV is susceptible to corruption. Criminals can and will obtain national ID cards, or operate without them. National ID cards will be used to track the law-abiding masses, not criminals."
Excellent letter Don! Thanks for taking the time to write one and post it here. I wish more would follow that lead. Being silent is equal to giving an endorsement when there are things going on in government that we find unpalatable.
The Press-Register called earlier to verify my letter and to tell me they will be running it in a couple days. I hope they print yours too.
I personally do not want the federal government to intrude in my life anymore than it already does. I don't feel these federal real ids will make us any safer from terrorists. All this will do is cause more problems and more red tape for the average American. The more government in our lives the worse things will be just let us be free.
A related post by Representative Cam Ward is @ http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2008/04/10/real-id-act-no-imaginary-threat/
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