Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Signed into law by President Bush in May 2005 following its enactment by the U.S. Congress, the Real ID Act forces states to convert state drivers' licenses into national identity cards no later than 2008. Initially the card will be required to access federal buildings and airports, among other locations.

States are required to follow stringent and costly requirements before issuing the cards, including participation in a 50-state, interlinked database making all information in a person's file available to all other states and the federal government.

Since the tragic terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, this country has been trading freedom for security, always a bad bargain. The Patriot Act continues to bend and break our Bill of Rights.

Perhaps you were as surprised as Sen. Susan Collins to read President Bush's statement, attached to Collins' bill successfully reforming the Postal Service, claiming the president can now open and read our mail.

When the federal government can listen to your phone calls, read your mail, access your bank account, and require you to carry an identification card to travel in this country or visit government agencies -- well, how do you like slavery?

Land of the free? Who are we kidding? We're sheep, blissfully awaiting the slaughter. So far, perhaps you've only been sheared -- maybe none of this has seriously affected you. Maybe freedom seems secure in your neighborhood and home. Maybe you are wrong.

Probably you pay your taxes, so you've never suffered the heavy hand of the tax man. But consider this: how free are you when you can lose your home and be kicked out into the cold if you don't pay the government its annual allotment of property tax? You don't own your home; you are there only as the guest of the government. Fail to pay its demands and see how long the home is yours. Your home is your castle, you say? Hoo boy. What an idealist! But I digress. This column is about the real nightmare of the Real ID.

Here's the short version of what's wrong with the Real ID. Expensive: estimated to cost states $9 billion to $13 billion. Ineffective: terrorists can obtain fraudulent documents -- indeed the cards will aid the scourge of identify theft. Bureaucratic: every bit of the complex web of information required to obtain the card must be verified --expect long delays and great cost.

Invasion of privacy: private industry could easily grab the data on these cards, accelerating the loss of privacy now occurring all across America. The requirement for "common machine-readable technology" for Real IDs would allow easy computerized transfer of the data on the cards. The first time you swipe the card at a big-box retailer, all of your information can be captured and sold to data aggregators.

At one time ID cards were just that: confirmation of who you are. Today ID systems have become virtual surveillance systems, recording your locations, activities, purchases and more.

Once the Real ID is in place, you can expect it to be used increasingly for routine tracking, monitoring and regulation of your movements and activities. If you think these are the ramblings of a conspiracy nut, you are not a student of history. Modern genocides such as Rwanda's were facilitated by an identification card system.

Not in this country, you say. Are you sure enough of that to give up more of your rights?

The National Governors Association, National Conference of State Legislatures, and political groups from the far left to the far right have denounced the Real ID.

New Hampshire's Sen. John Sununu says "the flaws of the Real ID are fundamental ... raise serious privacy concerns ... will impose billions of dollars in new costs on states," and demonstrate an "arrogance that pervades Washington." Couldn't have said it better myself.

Alabama tried to get a head start on the Real ID in 2005 by requiring residents to conform their driver's license name to the records held by the Social Security System. Public outrage stopped the program. Good for them! Now it is time for Maine citizens to make their stand against the Real ID. Let the campaign begin with you. Live free or die!

If you want more information about this issue, at 6:30 tonight, I'll be participating in a panel with Shenna Bellows of the Maine Civil Liberties Union and Matt Dunlap, Maine's secretary of state, at the Buker Center, 22 Armory Street, Augusta.

George Smith is executive director of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine. He lives in Mount Vernon and can be reached at george@samcef.org.