[Forwarded] RealID: How to become an unperson.

[Perry E. Metzger]

I'm forwarding this article, originally from the Cypherpunks mailing
list (I saw it on Dave Farber's "Interesting People") because I find
the security implications important.

HOWEVER, I'm warning in advance that I'm not going to forward a lot of
followups, especially if they are unoriginal and/or contain lots of
ranting language and little content. (I'm mildly uncomfortable with
the original, actually, because I prefer light to heat, but it makes a
very interesting point...)

From: [apparently] J.A. Terranson
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2005 6:34 PM
Cc: cypherpunks at al-qaeda.net
Subject: The Nazification Of America ("Show Me Your Papers" - Day 1)

For those of you who may have missed it, today was the first day of the
new "Real ID Act", a/k/a, the American Nazification Papers Act.  I
wouldn't have know myself except that I recently moved, and wanted to
exchange my current Illinois drivers license for a Missouri one.

Not so fast...

"You have a passport?"

"No, I don't travel."

"A certified copy of your original birth certificate?"
"Haven't had one since I was born, fifty years ago.  And since I was  
born about 1500 miles from here, getting one is no small task."

"Too bad.  Your old license is invalid and you can't get another one in
any state, starting today, without at least one of the two documents,  
PLUS secondary ID to back them up."

Even though I have a current license, and even though I am in their
system as having held a valid Missouri license for 15+ years, photo
included, none of it is good enough.

OK, so I have no choice, I go to the post office to get a Passport -
same thing.

Fine, I'll just order the birth certificate and get it over with, right?

Wrong.  New York wants affirmative proof of identity for a copy now:
passport or your [missing] original birth certificate.  Anyone else
see a circular problem here?

"I need a new birth certificate because the old one was lost about forty
years ago. And I don't have a passport to prove my identity."

"Get your parents to testify who you are, and make sure they bring their
passports."

"They are both dead."

"Sorry Sir, I'm afraid we won't be able to help you then."

<click>


Durbin was right.  And he didn't even scratch the surface!  Anyone who
thinks this "Real ID Act" is about getting false ID out of the hands
of "The Terrorists" is an idiot: they will simply print their own
drivers licenses - this is about forcing the regular population to get
used to intrastate passports.  This act essentially forces you to have
a passport for everyday things like banking, car purchases and certain
repairs, checks, etc.

We have literally allowed the Nazification to begin, and we've even
welcomed it with eager open arms - all in the name of "Fighting Terror".
Crystal clear, pure unadulterated bullshit.

-- 
Yours,

J.A. Terranson
sysadmin at mfn.org
0xBD4A95BF

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