Real ID = Reality?
Published by Elana May 10th, 2005 in Politics.It’s incredibly important everyone go to this website and submit a fax to their Senators in order to stop this travesty from occurring.
Here is what I wrote to Senators Kerry & Kennedy:
I am dismayed to find out the ‘Real ID’ act being slipped into a Senate appropriations bill in order to support the troops overseas. These men and women fighting with already depleted armaments are now relying on this bill. Our legislature has been given the odious task of either denying them the funds they need for armor, tanks, and missles in a war many do not support, yet fight anyway or implementing a National ID system which undermines the essential freedoms of the American people and turns this country into a virtual police state.
I do not envy your decision, but I have to say we need to vote out the National ID system, and reintroduce the appropriations bill without this addition. This is yet another ridiculous misuse of the system perpetuated by the far right of the Republican party and we must not give into their unAmerican actions. By voting in this bill, you are letting the terrorists change America. To give up our freedoms, even in small ways, allows Osama bin Laden and his ilk win.
Please make sure you read this bill before voting on it. It is important you understand what you are getting this country into before raising your hand and voting ‘Aye’ on this measure. Please remember the Real ID system is fundamentally insecure. It actually makes it easier to steal the holders’ identity. Please remember the funding for this project is expensive and unmandated. You would be voting to spend money to support armor for the troops, yes, but also mandating an unsupported legislation which would cost the American people over $120 million to implement, much less maintain.
More information on the hazards of Real ID and its inherant security risks are available at Schneier on Security at: http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2005/05/real_id.html
Please read and understand before you take action.
Thank you.
Does a particular corporation own the Real ID system? If so it would be interesting to know their campaign contributions.
Given that REAL ID is a mandate for national ID cards, and not a ’system’ per say, it would be part of a request for proposals to various contractors to come up with a system which matches the guidelines as set forth in the law. The problem is, this RFP will probably never be generated, despite this mandate simply because Congress is unwilling or unable to fund it. This is what Schierer meant when he said it was an “unfunded mandate”. Based on this mandate, Congress will have to earmark $120 million which could be spent on better methods of safety and security than this travesty and spend it on the RFP and subequent contract bids. As always with government contracts (unless you’re Halburton), the lowest bid will win. It’s unlikely this will be a sole source contract. This is when they word the contract in a manner so only one potential contractor can bid on it.