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California Edges Toward Joining Real ID Revolt
The Department of Homeland Security's Real ID program has a real challenge on its hands from California. DHS had said it will only grant extensions from the Real ID rules taking effect on May 11 to states that apply by March 31 and promise to implement Real ID by 2010. California requested an extension but would not make the latter promise. DHS buckled and said, in effect, "Good enough." Perhaps they realized that trying to slap giant California around is qualitatively different than doing the same to New Hampshire. In another crack in the wall. DHS has granted Montana a waiver it explicitly did not ask for. From Wired: "For a short moment Thursday, millions of Californians were in danger of facing pat-downs at the airport and being blocked from federal buildings come May 11... DHS had said before Thursday it won't grant Real ID extensions to states who don't commit to implementing the rules in the future. That meant Tuesday's letter looked like enough to join California to the small rebellion against the Real ID rules. For Californians that would mean enduring the same fate facing citizens of South Carolina, Maine, Montana, and New Hampshire... [A]fter Threat Level provided Homeland Security spokesman Laura Keehner with the letter, Keehner said California's commitment to thinking about commitment is good enough."
who thinks that is a good thing that something like this is deployed. On one hand, having not heard about it, it makes you wonder what other surveillance is going on and how intrusive it may be. At the same time, its difficult to see something like radiation detection equipment infringing on personal rights. I guess its a question of where to draw the line, but I dont have a problem with scanning cars on the highway for high levels of radiation, it doesnt harm the passengers (I assume - IANA Nuclear Engineer or Physicist).
I am sure someone somewhere will think that is infringing on their right to drive up the 5 with a radioactive cat. And, for the record, I think that is a bit ridiculous, and I would be the last person to say we should cede rights for security (I have heard Ben Franklin and others quotes already ad infinitum), I think this is a good thing(tm)
Posted this to the wrong story... need caffeine