Pantagraph.com | Letters | Americans must resist Real ID Act

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Mark Rhoads wrote on Apr 30, 2007 4:27 PM:

" People commenting on the REAL ID Act of 2005 in critical terms refuse to either read the law itself or the proposed regulatioins published by the Department of Homeland Security on March 1. People should honest enough to read the actual law before trying to scare people with wild claims. There is NO provision for an RFID chip in a driver's license, NO national data base, and NO "national ID card." Ploice officers need this law for their own safety to make sure states have minimum standards. There it nothing more sinister about codes that than the magnetic stripes on credit cards. Under-age college student can easily counterfeit the current license to drink without REAL ID. All of the 9-11 terrorists were able to board planes with fraudulent cards. If you want to learn more, just go to the DHS web site and read the regulations for yourself before jumping to all sorts of wild conclusions. Former Illinois State Sen. Mark Rhoads, formerly of Western Springs, Illinois. "

Catherine Howell wrote on Apr 28, 2007 12:11 PM:

" I am totally opposed to this idea of 'forcing' people to submit to the Real ID. I for one will not do this! People need to stand up and be counted on this issue. We are, as a nation of people, just sitting on our self-satisfied materialistic butts and letting it all happen. We had better wake up and realize that if we do not take a stand on this issue that pretty soon they will require every american citizen to have a microchip implanted in our body somewhere. They already want to experiment on Alzheimer's patients!! WAKE UP AMERICA!! "

To: Proof wrote on Apr 28, 2007 12:19 AM:

" Its called a birth certificate. "

To: to Everyone who wrote on Apr 28, 2007 12:17 AM:

" Social Security does not help the poor or the elderly. All it does is take their well earned money and invest it very poorly and then doll it out in small chunks when they get old enough. "

What's the difference wrote on Apr 27, 2007 6:09 PM:

" We have social security numbers. Credit checks only take a few minutes to run, we require address numbers on houses, license plates and titles on cars, insurance I.D. Anybody who lives a legal life is I. D. so many ways there is no problem for the government to find you. The only people that can't be found are probably living illegally somewhere some how. Personally, I think the Real ID might be a good idea. "

To: MRS wrote on Apr 27, 2007 11:26 AM:

" We do have a lot of political power as a citizenry, but not buying anything a couple days a month will not reduce the tax base. If people skip Monday and Tuesday, they'll catch up those purchases on Wednesday. "

BN Cynic wrote on Apr 26, 2007 8:22 PM:

" "to: BN Cynic", then what do they need it for? Its supposed to be a stronger ID, one with protections that make it a lot harder to forge. That's the entire point, or so I understand. "

Dawn wrote on Apr 26, 2007 8:05 PM:

" To MRS, I couldn't have said it better myself. We as a people have tremendous political power should we choose to use it! I just wish more people would realize it. "

to to:BN Cynic wrote on Apr 26, 2007 6:00 PM:

" Bravo. I agree. I also am against a National ID. I already know who I am so don't need one. "

MRS wrote on Apr 26, 2007 5:57 PM:

" I wouldn't advocate the arms just yet but I sure wouldn't be letting anyone take them either. What I was talking about is legal. It just takes will power to do it. If taxpayers could get a large number of workers (millions) to call in sick a couple days a month, don't buy anything either. That is a lot of tax money Uncle Sam wouldn't get. This would require everyone getting "sick" on the same day. Don't take it as a sick day, holiday or pto. You will have to make provisions but can you imagine? I had a dream last week that nobody paid his or her taxes. Most in Congress had coronaries and Bush resigned. Unless something changes in probably the next few weeks we have lost and lost big, we lose our country. Can you imagine having a different currency, no bill of rights, constitution and our laws conforming somewhat to Mexico's? An example would be the age of consent in Mexico is 12 yrs old. Do we want that type of government? Will have to incorporate some of Mexico’s standards, they will be part of the NAU. "

Reality_Can_Be_Hell wrote on Apr 26, 2007 5:11 PM:

" I am tottaly amazed at the tottal amount of brain power exibited by those advocating the National ID. To alow the Goverment to do this is equal to the morons who put hitler in power. Wake people and try to understand just how dangerous this is. If the goverment wont back off them we must take up arms and force them to (thank the lord for the 2nd). The consitution alows us to do this if we feel it is neccesarry to do so and in this case it may be. "

to Solution for Most ID Thefts wrote on Apr 26, 2007 4:27 PM:

" Its very easy to get a fake ID with your picture on it. "

You may think I'm crazy, but... wrote on Apr 26, 2007 4:26 PM:

" The problem I have with this program is where the potential for where it can go. I like to think I am in charge of my own life, although I know differently. With the advances in technology this could be the first step in knowing where you are, and who you are with 24X7. They already know all your spending habbits, what you read, and what you watch. Who is to say that these "biometric" tags won't incorporate more and more technology and allow the government to more easily keep tabs on you "for your own good, and the good of the nation". Remember, this is the same government who performed experiments on it's own soldiers in the 60's with all kinds of different drugs and radiation to study their effects. Just becasue the government promises you they won't invade your privacy is no reason to give them total control. IF the government WANTED to create a program to keep tabs on their citizens as in a worse case scenario, I can't think of a better way to start. "

Solution for Most ID Thefts wrote on Apr 26, 2007 4:00 PM:

" Get the people at the check out lines to ask for a picture ID. "

Well stop harping wrote on Apr 26, 2007 3:54 PM:

" One all need to write there congress reps and state reps if you havent done so do so. I have and yes have recieved some replys like there for it. So they wont get my vote. Sort of like the state wanting to let illegals get a valis driver lD. As for you SSN it was never to be used as a ID to get anything. I would like to a national driver ID or require a passport finger prints well if youwere in the service ever been processed for jailyour prints are on file. Now parents doing it to there children to help ID them. So now that they have done that they will have finger print id on file for ever. So whats difference on it all. Not a darn thing. likepeople said they got it all anyway. The only ones hiding from it are people that want to hide something. "

Proof wrote on Apr 26, 2007 1:55 PM:

" Proof of identity needs to be required to vote, period! Valid ID of some credible nature needs to exist and be utilized. "

"this wo'nt hurt", (he,he,he).. wrote on Apr 26, 2007 1:25 PM:

" If the Bible explains there will come a day you will be caused to take a "mark" in your right hand or forehead in order to "buy, sell or trade", (real ID requires a fingerprint and eyescan), a system would need to be in place to carry this out. Not only a system, but the people (minions) willing to carry out this plan. And they will be more than happy to. Knowing their time is short. "

Enemy of SS wrote on Apr 26, 2007 12:14 PM:

" I dislike Social Security. Not because I am an enemy of the poor and elderly. What a hateful comment. I dislike Social Secuity because it was never to be used as it is today. It should be revamped. Take a look at the numbers for this program. NO ONE believes that in 40 or 50 years it will be a viable program. Why would I want to continue a program and force my children and grandchildren to fix a problem we know is coming? "

Mary wrote on Apr 26, 2007 11:29 AM:

" I have written to Rep. Ray LaHood to repeal the Real ID card. He wrote back to me that he supports the Real ID card. I will not be voting for Ray LaHood come the next election. We must support our Illinois legislators to pass into law HJR0027 to repeal the federal Real ID Act "

to Everyone who... wrote on Apr 26, 2007 10:45 AM:

" Enemies of the poor and elderly have been trying to destroy Social Security for decades. Defeating the Real ID won't help with that fight. "

Everyone who... wrote on Apr 26, 2007 10:23 AM:

" Says this is bad but we shouldn't fight it because we have already had things like SSN's and other socialized programs go into effect needs to realize that there is a first step in fighting government infingement. If we can draw the line here and stop the real ID, maybe we can eventually roll back things like social security and get closer to the free anonymous society we once were. Even it is useless in the end, my motto is to always fight these things with everything you have and not give in no matter how bad it gets "

lfount wrote on Apr 26, 2007 9:49 AM:

" We need to have harsh punishments for those who commit ID theft. I am talking harsh punishment with no leniency. The punishments should start with prison, for 10 years, at hard labor, with no luxuries and go up from there. Until we are willing to severly punish criminals, the crimes they commit will continue to increase "

MRS. wrote on Apr 26, 2007 9:15 AM:

" We already know how the Government feels about the Constitution and enforcement. If US citizens fight this like they fought the illegal alien situation it will pass very quickly. We have and have always had the attitude Government works for us. That is the ay it is suppose to happen but if the Government is trying to change the rules they aren't going to listen to us. What is the one thing Government must rely on taxpayers for? Just like the big trucker protest that was suppose to happen. They are one group than have the ability to force Government to listen but they won't do what it takes to get it done. Taxpayers are another group that can force their attention but we won’t do it because we worship the almighty buck, "

Yep wrote on Apr 26, 2007 8:50 AM:

" We need to make sure we have laws in place to make it easier to commit identy theft. Do you think the state of Illinois doesn't sell/give that information away already? "

Bluegrass American wrote on Apr 26, 2007 8:43 AM:

" NO WAY will I get this card! All those in favor of this card, just raise your right hand, just like the old guy in Germany used to do. "

to true threat wrote on Apr 26, 2007 8:20 AM:

" I agree. The cat's long out of the bag on this one. Everyone is in dozens if not hundreds of databases. Nothing you can do about it, short of a Fight Club type scenario. So you might as well make sure that the information in the databases is really about you and not some illegal or other who stole your ID. "

to:BN Cynic wrote on Apr 26, 2007 6:50 AM:

" If the government has access to all of this information anyway, then what do they need the real id for? It's my understanding that a provision of this law grants access to this information to ANY government that also complies. "

BN Cynic wrote on Apr 26, 2007 6:15 AM:

" Yup, I'm going to resist a secure ID card that will make it harder for illegal aliens to steal my ID and ruin my credit rating. I've read a good amount of the anti-Real ID literature and I understand privacy concerns and all that, but its a moot point. The government has access to all of this information anyway. "

Real ID is nothing....... wrote on Apr 26, 2007 4:11 AM:

" more than stripping the American people of the rights we have and giving the government more of our personal lives. I hope and pray this country has enough smart people left to knock this stupid idea right out of the water. Citizens need to stop and think real hard before agreeing to this idiotic idea. "

true threat wrote on Apr 26, 2007 1:55 AM:

" The government already has access to the information through your drivers license and SSN. Those numbers are used for everything from employment, getting credit, for medical care, and places to live. there are a lot of databases, and even individuals, as well as companies can get your information. The only thing forgotten is that the government does not care about you as an individual, only as a statistic. the individuals and companies should be worried about more because individuals uses individual info, and the companies use both. More damage is done by allowing the government to raise taxes, and creating entitlement programs. How can anyone be against a national ID card but be for nationalized health care (the government knows your medical history), raising taxes (the government controls your money), entitlement programs (the government controls your lives). IF you really want to stop the future abuse that is coming, you have to limit government drastically, take back the money you earn, and vote politicians out of office that want to expand government. "

Wanda wrote on Apr 26, 2007 1:54 AM:

" All you have to do is put the ID in the microwave....LOL "

OGS Revolution wrote on Apr 26, 2007 12:55 AM:

" Any member of congress that supports this is not upholding their oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. See a number of readings on the web to learn more. See informationliberation.com "

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