You've given me some great ideas, and yes...no matter what..I will have fun!

Besides legislation prohibiting RFID in state DL's, I'm also thinking, what about mandating DL photos be low enough resolution that they would be incompatable with facial recognition software, ban the use of government camera footage to search for specific individuals without a warrant, ban the collection of other biometric data as part of obtaining state DL or state ID? I'm just brain storming here. Some of these ideas may not be so good. But I'd like to see more model legislation for states to introduce next year.

Also, are there any good video documentaries specifically about what we've been discussing? People need to be educated about both the forest and the trees. Thanks!

Who's ok with people dying? If you had actually read my article, you'd realize that the money spent on this intervention could be used to save many more lives on that continent than the ones that might be saved by using cruise missiles.

Let me know when you're actually ready to refute any of my points with something that resembles a sound argument.

I completely understand Howard (I think you are Howard Houchen, sorry if you aren't). I have first hand experience with biometrics that didn't involve any ID card and it scares the heck out of me!

I'm not trying to dismiss you, I'm just trying to get a clearer picture and you are helping me bring that picture into focus. I appreciate you taking the time to do that!

What I what to emphasize however, is that I see the glass as half full, rather than half empty, thanks to state level resistance. If the states had not outright refused in some cases and dragged their feet in others, this whole process might have been completed years ago. DHS having to extend the deadline for compliance for a third time isn't insignificant. Like many in AZ (maybe a majority), my DL doesn't expire for decades. They are not going to be able to collect any more biometric data from me through the AZ DMV for a long time. However, I realize there are other ways that data can end up in one centralized database. I have a US passport, I was in the military, I have have held security clearances that involved detailed background investigations, I have been fingerprinted more times than I can count in order to obtain certain licences and permits. All it takes is for the state of AZ to share that info with DHS and they would have a very complete file on me. People need to think long and hard before they give up this biometric data voluntarily.

We also need to demand that our state governments outlaw these bechmarks and delete a lot of the data that has been collected so it can't eventually all be shared with DHS. We have to resist (on the state level), having cameras placed everywhere, biometric readers becoming routine and having biometric data collected for everything under the sun. We need more ways to explain to people what we've been discussing here, like the .ppt presentation, but for people with shorter attention spans.

Thoughts?

Besides the fact that he launched the war before consulting Congress, as far as I know, Congress still hasn't made any formal declaration of war, or passed any kind of resolution that authorizes war. Congress can't delegate their war making authority to the executive branch either.

Don't get me wrong, these benchmarks are of great concern to me (some concern me a lot more than others), and I thank those who have pointed them out. I think residents in every state should work to reverse the most costly of these measures they deem to be the greatest threats to their privacy. However, as Jim Harper of the CATO Institute has pointed out:

"..these benchmarks are not the substance of REAL ID, which is uniform collection and sharing of driver information, and uniform display of driver information in the 'machine-readable zone' of a national ID card."

If I understand the Real ID Act of 2005 correctly, this was all supposed to have been achieved by 2008 and yet today, because of state level resistance, that is far from the case. So to deny that many states have successfully resisted Real ID's implementation would be pessimistic IMHO. Although the national ID builders are unlikely to ever stop their efforts, state nullification can slow or halt Real ID's implementation at the state level, giving representatives in Congress more time to defund and/or repeal it.

I've looked over the 18 benchmarks (http://www.nga.org/Files/pdf/0907PASSIDBENCHMARKS.PDF), and some questions came to mind:

1. How many of these benchmarks were already in effect in some states before Real ID was even passed in 2005?
2. How many of those that have been implemented after 2005 had nothing to do with the federal Real ID Act, but would have been implemented by some states anyway?
3. These benchmarks would make it easier perhaps for states to network their databases of driver information together into a national ID system at some point in the future, but I didn't see one that mandates that states network their system to a national one or share the information they collect with a federal agency, etc. So even if all 50 states implement all 18 benchmarks, how does this create a a national ID card?

Thanks!

Thank you Sherry!

I think Congress kind of likes being like the little kid in the back seat with the toy steering wheel.

I guess the way I see it is that 11 states out of 50 isn't exactly cause for the fed gov to Twitter "Winning" or anything. I live in Arizona and I haven't had to update my DL picture in many years, let alone give the DMV any biometric data. My DL expires in 2035. While they have my current address in their state database, the address that appears on my license is from many years ago.

If you live in one of those 11 states, there may also be many other reasons besides that to make you want to consider moving to a state that is more respectful of both your privacy, and your right to liberty and property.

Nice wording!

Fair enough McQ. But in order to be awarded a full point the federal government must force all 50 states to fully comply with the Real ID mandates, since it is I, of course, who gets to set the rules for scoring purposes :0)