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Homeland Security Director Defends Real ID

Posted by Zonk on from the fighting-the-fight dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff is defending the upcoming rollout of the national ID card as vital for the nation's security. Chertoff reminded reporters of the importance of the initiative after this week's uncovering of an ID-forging ring. The Real ID Act of May 2005 dictates the uses and requirements for the documentation, which by 2008 may be required for everything from travel to banking. Just the same, the HSD has yet to dictate how exactly the cards will work. " From the article: "The Homeland Security chief, who is nearing his two-year mark with the agency, was likely trying to quell rampant skepticism about the IDs voiced by some privacy advocates, immigrants and other groups. Some have said they fear that the IDs are a stepping stone to a veritable police state, complete with ready surveillance of individuals. Some have argued that the idea of creating more tamperproof IDs is only a marginally better way to screen out those intent on committing terrorist acts because ID cards don't even begin to tackle a core crime prevention challenge: determining a person's unspoken intentions. "

8 of 376 comments (clear)

  1. Oh no, think about our children! by Salvance · · Score: 4, Funny

    Speaking for all college students out there (even though it's been 10 years since I've been one), I say "down with national ID cards!" How are our college students supposed to enjoy the company of their elders in fine drinking establishments without easily forged IDs? Punishing the resourcefulness of underage drinkers that are no threat to national security is just a crime.

    --
    Crack - Free with every butt and set of boobs
    1. Re:Oh no, think about our children! by camperdave · · Score: 2, Funny

      It's not a channel. It's a moat. Whether France put it there to keep the English out, or whether England put it there to keep the French out is lost to antiquity.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    2. Re:Oh no, think about our children! by KillerCow · · Score: 5, Funny
      Actually, terrorists often do carry ID. In fact, in most major terrorist attacks in the West since 9/11, the terrorists have been carrying genuine ID. The 9/11 hijackers used real ID to get on the planes. The Madrid train bombers had official ID. The London transport bombers were not using false ID.

      This is why the whole ID card scheme business, both over in the US and here in the UK, is one big sham. In fact, our government has moved the goalposts so often, as each successive "justification" has been debunked, that I can't even remember what useful stuff they do think they'll achieve now.


      You see, the new IDs will come with this form when you apply for one. It will have these check-boxes on it:
      (select one)
      * I intend to commit a terrorist act
      * I do not intend to commit a terrorist act, but I will in the future
      * I am a criminal
      * I am a pedophile
      * I believe in personal freedoms
      * I am capable of critical though and analysis
      * none of the above, therefore I am an honest citizen

      If your status ever changes, you will be required to apply for a new card. It's completely fool-proof.
    3. Re:Oh no, think about our children! by dangitman · · Score: 2, Funny

      Back in the day, when I used to regularly attend student protests, and take part in various other anti-government activities, I made it a point to never carry ID with me.

      But how does that make you a troublemaker? That just makes you a good citizen. I was talking about "blow the whitehouse up" or "mafia crime boss" or "republican party lobbyist" kind of troublemakers.

      --
      ... and then they built the supercollider.
  2. Quotes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Quotes from article:

    "With RealID, we can easily track down minorities and poor people."

    "You know when someone shows you a RealID, its real. I mean, its in the name."

    "To stop people from making fake RealIDs, we called it 'RealID'."

  3. This is a must see by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    http://www.aclu.org/pizza/images/screen.swf

  4. Re: RealID Quotes by Eberlin · · Score: 2, Funny

    oooh ooh, and when you swipe it at a card reader, it goes

    asdf2349qu0sadifjafsld@3290### buffering...

  5. Re:Straight outta sci-fi by dunkelfalke · · Score: 4, Funny

    first i wanted to point out that a national id works pretty much everywhere else in the world without the problems described by you.
    but then i remembered that for example universal healthcare works pretty much everywhere else, too.

    --
    Conservatism: The fear that somewhere, somehow, someone you think is your inferior is being treated as your equal.