Comment Re:I don't get it. (Score 1) 621
Here's what's wrong with it in a nutshell:
1) It's expensive (that's already been covered and seems to be Maine's main objection). Even if you don't have a problem with lots of government spending, the problem is that resources used to administer the ineffective Real ID program could instead be used on more effective counter-terrorism.
2) It exceeds congress' authority (but that horse has been beaten to death and beyond already).
3) Basic things we need to do to conduct normal activities in America will rely on beaurocrats administering a database and there WILL be errors. As an example, an employee of my company has been unable to travel from his home in Taiwan to our headquarters in California for 6 months because he's been erroneously placed on the "no fly" list. This sort of thing will only get worse with a larger and more comprehensive database. Imagine the frustration you'd have not being able to travel on planes, drive a car, or possibly even get a job because your name is erroneously listed, and having to spend months trying to "prove" that it's a mistake.
4) There is no tamper-proof ID. Terrorists, especially those with foreign state resources behind them will be able to alter or fake any ID we can come up with. Officials who control and issue these ID cards can be corrupted, etc.
5) Besides all this, it will do very little to protect us from 9/11-style terrorist attacks and may even be counter-productive. Most of the 9/11 terrorists could in fact have gotten an ID under the Real ID rules. Terrorist organizations are skilled at recruiting "clean" operatives (people with no criminal or suspect backgrounds) for critical missions. Knowing who someone is does not tell us what their intentions are and may well lull us into a false sense of security, the result of which is that resources which could be spent on measures that would actually be effective will instead be spent on administering this ineffective program.
1) It's expensive (that's already been covered and seems to be Maine's main objection). Even if you don't have a problem with lots of government spending, the problem is that resources used to administer the ineffective Real ID program could instead be used on more effective counter-terrorism.
2) It exceeds congress' authority (but that horse has been beaten to death and beyond already).
3) Basic things we need to do to conduct normal activities in America will rely on beaurocrats administering a database and there WILL be errors. As an example, an employee of my company has been unable to travel from his home in Taiwan to our headquarters in California for 6 months because he's been erroneously placed on the "no fly" list. This sort of thing will only get worse with a larger and more comprehensive database. Imagine the frustration you'd have not being able to travel on planes, drive a car, or possibly even get a job because your name is erroneously listed, and having to spend months trying to "prove" that it's a mistake.
4) There is no tamper-proof ID. Terrorists, especially those with foreign state resources behind them will be able to alter or fake any ID we can come up with. Officials who control and issue these ID cards can be corrupted, etc.
5) Besides all this, it will do very little to protect us from 9/11-style terrorist attacks and may even be counter-productive. Most of the 9/11 terrorists could in fact have gotten an ID under the Real ID rules. Terrorist organizations are skilled at recruiting "clean" operatives (people with no criminal or suspect backgrounds) for critical missions. Knowing who someone is does not tell us what their intentions are and may well lull us into a false sense of security, the result of which is that resources which could be spent on measures that would actually be effective will instead be spent on administering this ineffective program.
