Land of the free?

One of the most valuable privileges United States citizens have is the ability to live their lives with a certain amount of privacy and freedom.

Even with the passage of the Patriot Act and the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, for the most part Americans have been able to maintain independence and autonomy from the government.

However, these freedoms may be challenged after the passage of a somewhat low-publicized legislation called the Real ID Act of 2005.

The act, which calls for every American citizen to be issued a federal identification card, will go into effect in May 2008.

The act came out of the passage of the government’s hopes to deter terrorist activities on American soil and control the influx of immigrants who don’t have legitimate identifications.

Instead many civil rights groups and residents across the country are expressing their concerns regarding what will surely be a breach of privacy.

The license would contain information including: your full name, date of birth, sex, address, social security number and a digital photo.

The card would need to be carried at all times and would consist of a to-be-determined technology that Homeland Security assures would result in the elimination of any fake identifications.

The technology could be even more sophisticated if someone was a suspect of terrorist activity – fingerprints or some sort of retinal scan could be included in the card’s production.

While the government is going along with the passage of this piece of legislation, many states doubt the effectiveness of the cards and question whether their constituents will obligingly go along with this identification program.

At least 17 states have enacted anti-federal ID card legislation, and many have been allowed the opportunity to extend their deadlines to January 2010 before they must make their citizens comply with the act.

One of the most serious issues with the enactment of the Real ID Act is that only $40 million has been allocated by the government for the law – even though Homeland Security is saying that the project will eventually cost $23.1 billion over the next 10 years.

Who will pay the remaining cost?

Well, the public, of course, through possible higher taxes on cars, transportation, gasoline, etc.

It seems inane that the citizens of the United States will have to pay for an act that they’re not sure they even want.

Another huge qualm that the public has is the great potential for identity theft.

If this card must be carried at all times (especially when boarding domestic flights or entering federal buildings or national parks), anyone’s private and confidential information is available for the taking.

This act could invite dangerous opportunities for cases of stolen identities.

Unfortunately, California has taken steps towards complying with the national ID.

Gov. Schwarzenegger plans to create a budget to fund the issuing of the IDs.

Herein lies another problem: the cards must be distributed at the Department of Motor Vehicles where the citizen would have to appear in person with a photo ID, birth certificate, social security card and proof of principal residence.

You thought there were long lines at the DMV now?

Starting in 2008 there will be 22 million Californians who must go and receive their new ID cards.

The state is already trying to prepare for this mass exodus to DMV offices statewide.

It is estimated that the 169 field offices already in operation will not have the manpower or physical space to account for this new project. The government has not issued any kind of statement regarding how this issue will be resolved.

While citizens are certainly for a safer and more secure country, no one is asking for their simple rights of privacy and confidentiality to be taken away.

Here’s hoping that the states who are seriously questioning the Real ID Act will help the rest of the nation realize what a mistake it would be to brand each individual with a number.

America is supposed to be the land of the free – not the land of the closely monitored.