Liberty Maven

Stories from various places and sources reveal that opposition to the REAL ID Act is growing. First there is an editorial in the OC Register denouncing it.

The big trouble is that there’s no evidence that this Draconian act, even if fully implemented, would be more than a minor inconvenience for a determined terrorist. But having all that information – including copies of birth certificates and Social Security cards – available in one database would make an irresistible target for identity thieves. And it would be a major inconvenience for millions of innocent Americans and a major expense for state governments – meaning taxpayers. (Source Article)

In the Missouri legislature a new Anti-REAL ID law is getting a lot of support. “Derdy” on Ron Paul Forums posted the text of the bill introduced by Rep. Jim Guest and notes the following, “This bill passed committee by 8-0 and has 36 co-sponsors! Final vote is coming up soon.” The bill “prohibits the violation of a person’s privacy rights in order to obtain or renew a driver’s license,” according to the summary.

Finally, perhaps the most interesting news comes from CNET in a story showing a graphic of the entire United States colored in green. The green color indicates states that have been granted a waiver on their licenses not being accepted for airline travel beginning on May 11th, 2008. In effect, all states have now been granted this waiver, even though many states have stated they will not now nor ever support the federally mandated REAL ID.

Perhaps the most interesting thing is that states that have outright rejected REAL ID have sent the Department of Homeland Security notices telling them as much. Yet DHS has used those statements of REAL ID rejection as evidence to grant the state a waiver. In the end this looks more and more like a triumph for states rights and the tenth amendment. In fact, the CNET article’s conclusion says as much.

“DHS is not in power here,” said Jim Harper, the director of information policy studies at the free-market Cato Institute. “The states are in power. DHS has done all it could, but from a position of weakness…DHS put the best face it could on its capitulation to states with backbone. A lot more states will recognize that they own this issue, they control this debate.” (Source Article from CNET)

The battle against REAL ID is not over, but it may be safe to say that privacy and liberty is on the side that is currently winning. And I have to say it, Ron Paul told you so!