Fourteenth posting - id/ego

A friend told me last night that Congress recently passed legislation authorizing a national ID. At first I didn't believe her. Even after an immigration attorney in the room confirmed the news, I still didn't believe them. Sure, much of the world uses cards like these, and there are benefits. BUT there are tremendous risks involved -- and an ever-closer movement toward a big brother state.

I am hardly a Libertarian. In fact, I think the goverment in many areas could become even more proactive (care of the environment, corporate regulation, health care), but friends, this national ID could be very scary. Here's a website with more info (it is biased) -- http://www.unrealid.com/index.html. From what I understand, here's the scoop on the whole thing:

• National ID language was inserted into a House emergency spending bill the first week of May. Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI, and lapdog of the Right) seems to have been the sponsor
• Bill was passed 368-to-58, with little debate about the national ID
• Senate considered similar legislation, which was passed 100-0

I strongly urge you to take a look at the exact language of the legislation. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c109:6:./temp/~c109O0YnKC:e238497: It should concern you. Here are some highlights:

"Minimum Document Requirements- To meet the requirements of this section, a State shall include, at a minimum, the following information and features on each driver's license and identification card issued to a person by the State:
(1) The person's full legal name.
(2) The person's date of birth.
(3) The person's gender.
(4) The person's driver's license or identification card number.
(5) A digital photograph of the person.
(6) The person's address of principle residence.
(7) The person's signature.
(8) Physical security features designed to prevent tampering, counterfeiting, or duplication of the document for fraudulent purposes.
(9) A common machine-readable technology, with defined minimum data elements."

A lot of this is already on your driver's license, but more information on this last point (no. 9) is explained in greater detail in the Bill.

Let's hope the national press finds a reason to cover this. And let's also hope the Red states wake up and vote the idiots out.

Rock on. NATHAN