McLovin?

I want everyone to know that I am a superior Californian, so I want to keep my CA ID

Hmm?

the liquor store I frequent (a lot) only lets you buy booze with a Massachusetts ID, and they scan them. Not that they need it to know that I'm an alcoholic.

Dude, singapore has a population of 4.5 Million people, administering a 'national id' card program for that many people is total cake as opposed to the same program for 300+ million people in the USA. Who is going to administer this? have you ever been to the department of motor vehicles in the USA? The costs of creating a "national ID" card in addition to a passport or driver's license or a Social Security Card would be horrendously large. Also, its totally against the American concept of a federal state system to require people to present identification while traveling between states (which would be the only reason you'd even need a "national id" card). Every state already has their own equivalent of a state ID card that you can get at the DMV. It's not an issue of privacy really, although adding another set of numerical credentials for ID theft doesn't sound like a good idea either, its an issue of COST and Benefit, the latter of which there is nearly none.

too much thinking for my hungover brain

So if it's so innocuous, why have it at all? If it does nothing but tell some waiter that you're you, why spend millions of dollars to make sure everyone in the country gets one?

Just askin's all ....

I'm from one of those states that's resisting (SC). I do have an expired passport somewhere, but I'll be damned if I can find it. I guess it's body cavity searches for me the next time I fly.

I just think it's cute that Singapore's national seal has Latin on it.

body cavity searches for EVERYONE! But only if you're good...

not that worried about a national identity card, like the man said, they know what i get through my debit / credit card anyways, they know what i read through my Libaray card, and from that they have deduced that i am a poor, crazed computer geek devoid of social skills that eats pain pills and bagels, reads a mix of trash and computer books and drinks diet pepsi and beer, so , uh...

i guess i am pretty sad...but like the man above as long as it says i am from California, i would be happy

Illegals and criminals are the only ones that will The national ID. The left hates this fact and are rallying hard against it. Few people realize this amazing fact, but with DMV's getting linked you have a national ID right in your pocket. How do you think so many Illegals get busted? The fake crap doesnt cut it anymore. Hopefully this will put an end to sanctuary cities and all that other mess.

I'd be happier if once card could be used for an ID card, drivers license card, soc security, credit card, etc. I have to carry around too much plastic including my state's Firearms Owner's ID (FOID) card. In this modern world you shouldn't have to carry so many cards.

Hi.

John Mayer here.

I just want everyone to know that i think the goven'ment should have the right to read my mail, delete the word "abortion" from all databases, listen to all my phone coversations, and even tell me how to raise my children.

I also think that all politicians should receive inappropriate compensation from big industry, especially when it represents a huge conflict of interest.

thanks, let me know if there is anything i can do to help.

I think the problem people have with them relates to the electronics in them, you can scan the card for the data on it - much like the new biometric passports - without physical contact.

Someone who walks behind you on the train can theoretically scan the data and use what is on it perhaps to steal your identity or something.

I don't have a problem with a dead card like the one from the poster as it requires him to choose when to take it out and show it to someone, the new ones the UK is proposing is more like the kind you press against doors to open them etc.

papers please.

Whilst there have been some questions about whether the ID card proposals here in the UK could present a risk to privacy and so on, the major opposition to it is on the grounds of it being a useless waste of money and the fact that the proposed laws would infringe upon civil liberties.

The ID cards the UK is proposing to introduce would not replace the driver's licence or passport and are therefore of little/no use to the population however, if the proposed laws are passed, it would be illegal to leave your house without carrying one. So, given the £100 ($200) plus that obtaining an ID card would cost each individual, on top of the countless billions wasted by the government in introducing them, it's not difficult to see why people oppose them - they're effectively being forced the pay money to get something they don't need which they would then be obligated to carry at all times.
Add onto that the fact that it would then be legal for the police to stop absolutely anyone and demand to see their ID card for no reason and (IIRC) detain them if they aren't carrying one and you have even more of a civil liberties headache.

Personally I don't opposed to ID cards in theory but I refuse to accept the way that the fucktard Labour government is trying to force them onto us.

I really see no problem with a national ID, just as long as it works as a driver's liscense replacement. I don't want to carry more cards than I do already (my wallet is full of crap).

@GiltProto: I agree with you If where gonna have it why not have it be a national id card that that acts as a social security card, drivers license, passport and whatever else a state or the federal government has that needs a card.

States and Governments have to make money someway besides taxes and this is it, ID, Social Security cards, birth certificate etc. how much do they cost and how much are they to replace if lost.

@cash: It's not actually latin. It's Malay.

just in case anyone wonder...
BIN in arab stands for son of, which means batman son of superman? those are way to many superpowers.

If they REALLY want to track where I buy my vodka, go for it.

It means "(To) Progress Singapore"

If I'm not mistaken, we would all still have state specific IDs, but they would have to meet certain criteria as to security. It's more about national standards than national ID.

I think you'll still have to pay extra for the body cavity searches.

I think the issue with the Real ID is that, rather than some company using credit cards to track sales, this is the central government using an ID card to keep a record of, and track, people. And not just any record, but fairly personal data too vis a vis passports, which only work when you travel, and how often do any of us travel. It's true that domestic wiretappings are occurring and that people are being filmed left and right but imagine if the government had access to all sorts of personal information conveniently located in one database. That just seems pernicious at best. And those of you say you'd want one card as a matter of convenience, well,...what if you lost it? Then you'd be out your driver's license, social security card, etc. But if we absolutely had to have a Real ID, then I'd want California up front and center so no one thought I was from.....Wyoming or something.

Just to be clear, it's standards for the drivers' licenses, not a new card.

Ridiculous post. The threat about Real ID is not even so much tracking, it's the fact that it is a one-stop-shop for identity theft among other things. Get your credit card stolen? Not so much of a big deal, you can immediately cancel it. Get your drivers license stolen? Pretty annoying to have to go to the DMV, but a driver's license does not represent a high-level enough form of ID to do much real damage. Get your Real ID stolen though? Ah, now our thief has access to an ID with some real legitimacy behind it, and only god knows how much data mining access. This is a legitimate problem and a legitimate risk. Most importantly, we need to ask WHY this is a necessary step? Your article answers your own question Jesus. You've got a Passport. You've got a drivers license. You've got a Social Security card. You have several major credit cards. If you work for a big company or go to college, odds are good that you have a picture ID for those too. Do you really need yet ANOTHER form of ID to tell people who you are? Are all the previous forms of ID useless? Of course they aren't. There is no need for Real ID. Secondly, and maybe I'm the last person in the world who thinks this, whatever happened to being able to purchase things anonymously? I SHOULD NOT, repeat, SHOULD NOT, have to present my Real ID when I check out library books about the history of kinky sex or something. I should have the right to purchase as much booze and porn as I like without having to present my Real ID at every turn. Finally, there's the slippery slope argument. Consider the Patriot Act and how as you said, privacy is slowly slipping away here. If everyone is required to have a Real ID, it's only a matter of time before police officers walking the streets stop you to see if you have your Real ID on you. Think back to Nazi Germany- "papers please..." does that sound familiar? What if you forgot your Real ID that day? They call that a police state, and Real ID is just the first step.

Yeah... REAL ID is going to be awesome...

ALL of my information located in one place, including high resolution scans of my driver license, social security card, and birth certificate.

Not only will all of that and more be available in a database to ANY DMV worker, but it will also be encoded into the card that can be read by anyone with the correct scanner to read it... which can be bought cheap online.

Thus, if there is one tiny security breach ANYWHERE in the system... they will have my entire life to assist them in stealing it.

Anyone who supports REAL ID is a complete moron... I feel sorry for the guy who wrote this article.

Americans don't live in Singapore for a reason!

Personally I'm not that worried about it.

Here in the US the whole works is going to shit with such speed and efficiency that the work done to gather the information will most likely be negated in by the lack of competency or inter-bureau cooperation for anything of value to be done with it.

It's the fall of Rome people.
Good luck with administration.

When the soldiers roll up my street I will very likely be dead already so all I can offer is heartfelt, "Good Luck!"

Sorry.
Little lacking in the hope department of late.

Oh... Not to mention the de facto gun registry as well...

@Cellenin: agree about criminals. but "illegals"? most are busted through raids at workplaces while they do nothing other than try to provide for their families. many are busted due to DUIs (something a "red-blooded american" also does) then after being booked, the "truth" comes out. "but they're criminals because they broke the immigration law", you say? most "red-blooded americans" have no clue why. NO idea how hard and time consuming it is to get legal status, which takes YEARS and at $400 just to fill out an application is expensive. you can only fix your status through JOB(as in a specialist dr. or lawyer or such, NOT working cashier at burger king), immediate family of a legal resident or citizen, and of course as a refugee. you cant just walk up to USCIS and fill out an application for registering. which is what a LOT of people think it is. and visas only last for so long. point is: unless you're an immigrant who has gone through the process or just a racist prick. leave the guys that just want to give their families a better life, alone. approve an immigration reform that allows people with no criminal history to work here. or find something more productive to do with your time......

Exactly as some of you have said.
NAZI GERMANY!
No one thought Hitler would do anything and now look.

Imagine wanting to go to Paris for a couple of days, but you can't. Why? Because some dumb ass in Washington accidently put you on the no fly list.
Wanna know how long that would take to sort out?
... along time

"Those who are willing to sacrafice freedom for safety, deserve neither freedom nor safety"
-Benjamin Franklin

I think that somewhere, some way and for the right price the integrity of any id local or national can be bought. It will be a matter of time when we will need to come up with yet another super duper national id.

If states are going to give "undocumented workers" valid drivers licenses, how else will you be able to identify your citizenship short of carrying your passport with you everywhere? Stop states from handing out licenses to illegals, and then you won't have to worry about Real ID.

On a similar note, local police here in SoCal this week busted a Mexican National who had some very official looking Homeland Security ID and badge. He was using it to bilk money from his fellow Mexican Nationals saying he could get them citizenship papers for a price. Good thing he was only screwing his fellow countrymen and nothing more sinister.

@lindec: This is basically a summation of how I feel. Nice coverage of all the points in my head:
-Security risk
-Unnecessary, other than to allow the government additional access to records that it doesn't need.
-Creates a platform for abuse of power.
-Lends itself to the idea of a Police State. Which is also something I feared when we started tightening up our boarders, especially to Canada.

as for the national id card. like it has been repeated over and over again by others: i have enough crap in my wallet already. plus my crack dealer doesnt take credit cards much less scans my id so they cant track my purchases even if they wanted to so.......... same for my "illegal arms dealer"....

@EBone: police dont give a crap about your legal status. nor do insurance companies. unless you commit a felony the cops wont hand you over to immigration. so your point is moot. and youre right about the guy ripping mexicans off, it's a good thing it only got that bad, i mean, it's not like he was ripping off human beings or anything......

Idiots.. use your heads.. what did the nazi's say.. "Show me your papers!" you have a brain .. use it.. history is not written by people with good intentions. The real ID act is just another way to take your privacy.. but knowing americans.. they'll probably accept it and ask for seconds.

It is somewhat scary how time can wear down people's opposition to legislation to the point of acceptance. This post illustrates peoples' inherent submissive and rationalization qualities.
Does the information that the Real ID tracks already exist in multiple forms, yes of course. Is that the issue? No. The issue is two fold.
First, as lindec pointed out: This is now one location for the identity thieves of the world to mine for victims. While true that the gov't might not be able to access the information efficiently, an identity thief is much more determined for the information and will dig deep.
Second, this is another instance of the Federal Gov't wrestling power away from the State Gov'ts, something US citizens should oppose. The states were founded and given their power to prevent a Federal Gov't from dominating its citizen's lives. We as citizens should be shouting along with these resisting states in every medium possible.
The author didn't think the Real ID outcome through fully. The Real ID offer too much risk without any benefits to the citizens. Only the Fed benefits, and they are here to serve us, not the other way around.

Listen,
there are rules already in place to allow people into this country legally. It's the people who are too lazy or impatient to follow those rules who would like to see this kind of thing put into place so that getting a fake ID will ease their entry into this country. Everyone who follows the rules that we already have are welcome into this country. And to quote Pres Bush, sadly:" we need people who will do the jobs that no American wants to do" well, that is a huge load of hogwash. If you paid people a fair market value for the job, then there are more than enough people in America right now to do those jobs. If you don't want to pay a fair wage for the job, then of course you will need screw people over (hence hiring illegal aliens who won't complain)and that to me is un-American. Keep the stupid ID card, live with the laws we already have, and vote in the elections to keep crap like this from popping up.
Whew, there. I gotta go now my gardener is blowing leaves all over and he doesn't understand me when I ask him to stop...

@izim1: You missed my points entirely. First, I don't want to carry my passport with me to go vote or to get on an airplane for a domestic trip. The only ID checked for those situations currently is a valid state-issued drivers license. Give licenses to non-citizens, and you'll have to show your passport to hop a plane to Austin or to vote in November. How many people are going to vote if you have to have passport to prove citizenship to do it?

Second, my point was not that Mexicans are less than human. That's your assertion. My point was he was only scamming people looking for green cards. It could of been a lot worse - he could have been providing IDs to, say, 19 men in their mid-20s to mid-30s from Saudi Arabia who had more on their minds than minimum wage jobs - like learning to fly commercial aircraft straight and level.

@EBone: dude. where have you been? you DO have to carry a passport to hop on a plane for a domestic trip now. they wont just take ID anymore. its been this way for a few months now. had to buy all my kids passports just to fly to disneyworld. $100 a pop.

as for your "scammer" point. now that you clarify it, i agree with you.

As I recall the Nazi's tattooed inmates in Auschwitz and later in other prison camps in order to ID. Is that the next step for us?

cheerfulcashew: "Listen,
there are rules already in place to allow people into this country legally. It's the people who are too lazy or impatient to follow those rules"

yeah, dude. i already explained "the rules". if you arent under 21 and/or immediately related to a "legal" than youre shit out of luck. unless your home country breaks out in civil war and the US decides to grant you refugee status. there isnt a damn thing you can do to become legal. what then, junior? what does "paco" who is tired of living in the wastelands of "el salvador" do then? just look at his babies faces every night knowing he cant give them a better life in the US because "its not legal"? c'mon dude. i agree their has to be laws. but the ones in place at the moment are DEEPLY flawed. to say the least.

lindec has hit the nail on the head. Ever hear the phrase "don't put all your eggs in one basket"?
How many times have we heard in the recent past about great big collections of sensitive data that have been lost or stolen? Batches of unencrypted disks lost in the mail, unsecured laptops stolen or "missing," etc. Governments and private companies have proven time and again how inept they can be at keeping our data secure.
So what happens when we have all our data in one big national database, and some hacker breaks in and pwns it? Who're they going to sell it to?