New and IMPROVED!! DHS throws $$ at Real ID Mandate

Real ID - REAL UNPOPULAR : DHS Digs Deep to Make it Happen

Unfunded mandate.  Two words ringing in the ears of DHS, who sincerely believe that funding is the only problem with moving Real ID forward.  The grain of truth to this is that only 5-7 US states have not filed any legislative resolution to block Real ID's passage, primarily due to lack of state funding.  The moment of truth has arrived in the fight for US privacy;  the DHS is now making a way to feed the greedy bellies of government contractors, Viisage/L1 Technologies and the other Big Brother, Digimarc with the 2008 Real ID Demonstration Grant Program. Even with the grant program - which isn't all that much-  I think states are onto something in the ambition of keeping the money away from DHS on this one.

Put Up or Shut up: Life in post Iraq-recession

Escalating gas and food prices, costs of living and the declines of the housing market have left American's and their states sadly hurting financially.  DHS has run afoul of growling state taxpayers unwilling to fork over the network start-up costs of hundred's of millions of dollars to finance the new world order- uh, I mean new WORLD CLASS - IDs.   More calculating state governments made "license revision" budget requests in previous legislative sessions.  When federal regulations were released for Real IDs in January 2008, the wheels were oiled to move forward with implementations for your new 3D face prints and radio frequency ID chipped licenses. If you live in one of these states, more fighting is ahead against implementation.

If you have a problem with this, go press these people and tell them to STOP IT.  They are the ones pandering to the DHS so identity thieves can just feast on all the means you have to be who you are with the great new insecure technologies YOU are paying for.

The problem?  Broadcasters don't get to discriminate on who gets their message.  Radio Frequency ID chips to be found in some Real IDs can be picked up by anyone with a UPC gun -a fact frequently posted on this blog.  Joe-Identity-Thief doesn't have to do much to get your information out of the DMV databases either. The ACLU has been fighting hard to stop the finance of any feature that leaves American IDs open for the unique exposures we are staring down right now with current DHS regulations.

It also appears that our government is currently obsessed with getting your picture in 3d. That's also a little unnerving.  They need to relax.   The contensions with the FISA wiretapping nonsense and the FEMA-Halliburtons secret prisons may cause you to think maybe our government doesn't really think we can run our own show without them.    What has the average American done, except pay taxes, that requires THIS MUCH surveillance? Most Americans are waking up to the new McCarthyism.  Today, when I hear the word "terrorism" from a public official all I hear is :"You are now losing more of your American born freedoms- now pay up!" I digress..

Real ID's mean more controls at airports and at federal facilities.  If TSA gives you the heebie jeebies, you can fly general aviation.  However, this is a symptom of the problem: the DHS making irrational demands on your American identity;  not because they really need to know about you flying out for your heart surgery in Des Moines.  It's about having to answer to them about that.  You didn't do anything wrong.  

Hey US government - this goes both ways - you question us : we question you.  We are all American's here, but there is a line. Real IDs cross that line.  The 5-11 Campaign exists because an overindulged corporate oligarchy stepped in and made a decision for us and was passed without public input or states vote in HR 1268 - brought to you by G.W. Bush Inc.  Now we have a duty to ourselves to stop you from moving this forward.

Real ID Reformers : Ron Paul vs. Bob Barr

Many political reformers in todays election climate are reaching for issues they believe will philosophically ally themselves with the people.   For the time being, party politicians adding a 5-11, or an Anti-Real ID issue, to their stump platform are among the Green Party, Ron Paul Republicans and The Libertarian Party. Each has a unique approach to representing the public on this issue.

In Texas, the Green Party voted on Saturday, June 14th to add a 5-11 "stump" to represent any Texan wanting to take a stand against Real ID's while voting for their party.  It didn't make it to the official stage for a vote, but it was handed off for approval in an amendment platform for latecomers.

While Ron Paul's Presidential Campaign ended, a chasm as large as the Grand Canyon is felt between Paul's supporters and McCain's kind of Republicans.  Many Ron Paul Republicans (some actually registered Libertarians) are at odds with many of the positions of Libertarian Party Presidential Nominee, Bob Barr. 

Here's an exerpt from THIRD PARTY WATCH's website in the crucial juxtaposition of Dr.Paul and Bob Barr on Real ID.

RON PAUL: "We must stop the move toward a national ID card system. All states are preparing to issue new driver's licenses embedded with "standard identifier" data - a national ID.  A national ID with new tracking technologies means we are heading into an Orwellian world of no privacy.  I voted against the Real ID Act in March of 2005." 

BOB BARR: "Big Government advocates are personified by the current Bush administration, favoring central control of virtually every facet of activity in our society, from education to transportation and from the plumbing in our bathrooms to the bulbs in our lamps.  While the Real ID debate shares some elements with its sister debate concerning voter ID, mixing the two as if the two sides of the same coin dilutes the host of fundamental concerns and responsibilities affected by the Real ID Act program now being forced down the throats of the states.

___________________________

BTC Commentary:  Ron Paul clearly dictates a descriptive plan of action - the other clearly gives an editorial of what the state of affairs is with no concrete position or plan of action.  This leaves Ron Paul Republicans and Libertarians in a valley of indecision, now that Paul's campaign has ended.

BeatTheChip contacted Bob Barr's campaign about such a plan of action, due to the known uproar amid party members caused by Barr's nomination as the Libertarian general election Presidential candidate. While local chairs were apologetic, offering a concrete point plan of representation on Real ID, Barr's campaign offered a publicist with more of the same Op-Ed approach to action. She has not gotten back to us yet.

If that is any interpretation of what is ahead, Bob Barr will expound on the Libertarian complaint responding with press engagement, lack of action and even less supportive voting records.  

In essence, unless we report otherwise, Bob Barr has no real plan to deal with Real ID's - stopping them or to "Barr" spending with States.   

Please keep checking back for position reports from other party politicians willing to make government move against Real IDs.

 

Texas DPS Uses Redesign Budget for National ID Features

c/o BeatTheChip.org  

AUSTIN, TX - Part of the Texas Department of Public Safety budget for the redesign of state licenses will be used to implement security features regulated by the Real ID Act  of 2005.  The redesign budget, approved during the last legislative session, will incorporate Real ID security features from a menu of options released by DHS in January of this year.

"Among other things, we will keep images of identity documents presented by the [license] applicant. Each license will have unique security features built into it.  We are not releasing specifics of those features," said Tela Mange, DPS public information officer.

DPS did not give a reason why these features were not being released to the public.  The nature of secrecy over budget allocations requiring state tax money raises serious concerns for citizens in the current political climate of general mistrust of Homeland Security and the Bush Administration. The passage of The Patriot Act, the annulment of Habeas Corpus and FISA wiretappings have sensitized Americans to globalized power grabs.

The Real ID Act of 2005 has a history of passing unnoticed into a publicly enforceable agenda by the Department of Homeland Security.  The Real ID Act of 2005, a largely unfunded Congressional mandate, was passed in HR 1268 - an expedited bundle of legislation to provide emergency Indonesian Tsunami relief and supplemental war spending on Iraq.  Since then,  Real ID's justified existence is an answer to post-911 identity concerns of drivers licenses issued to foreign terrorists linked to the attacks.  The decision to apply for a compliance extension in February was conducted in obscured meetings, largely without public input catering to the regards of DHS.

Since the release of the regulations, Real IDs have gained an orwellian reputation due to the regulation of certain machine readable technologies, such as radio frequency ID chips and the federalized demands for proof of national identity.

In other states, like Texas,  immigration was a compelling force in conservative state lobbies to advance the passage of this Act on a federal level.   The irony here is, only US citizens who provide documentation to the DPS, like Social Security number and birth certificate, can be issued this nationalized ID card.   Additionally, only people possessing Real IDs will be made vulnerable to the potential of identity theft due to confirmed insecure and inadequate database networks approved for use in State's motor vehicle administration by DHS regulations. Undocumented immigrants will continue as undocumented immigrants, providing the same under the table benefits to businesses exploiting their labor force.  Furthermore, foreign news reports that TSA currently has no open legal bearing to request ID at US airport checkpoints. If you forget your ID - you may board your flight as planned with additional pat downs and airport screenings.

So what is the "official federal purpose" of a Real ID in the possession of a Texas citizen?  As of May 11th, 2008  you need a "federally approved ID" or the functional equivalent to board commercial aircraft and to enter federal facilities. However, accroding to the Real ID Act of 2005, the official federal purpose of a Real ID is at the "discretionary authority of the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security".

"I have studied identification and identity cards carefully, and I want you to know that a national ID is neither a protection from terrorism nor a response to the attacks of September 11th, 2001.  A national ID would satisfy the federal government's demand for control-- not American's genuine need for security and law enforcement," says Jim Harper, Director of Information Policy Studies, CATO Institute; Member, Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security .

In the case of Texas State borderlands, the DHS waived 36 federal laws in April 2008 on the grounds of Secretary Chertoff's "discretionary aurthority" and Section 102C to expedite the build of a borderwall fence. Whatever your position is on a Mexica border wall fence, please not that possessing a Real ID is not necessarily about what's in your wallet.

Ask the 50 Texas landowners being sued for temporary access to their property what they think Real ID is about.

The texas state legislature will vote on the future of Real IDs during the next legislative session in 2009.

 

TSA's Demand for Real IDs- "Breathtaking stupidity"

ATTN FREQUENT FLYERS :  No ID is really required to fly...

c/o IT Wire (Australia)

The latest TSA stupidity is quite breathtaking.  They'll demand ID at the security checkpoint, but if you complain and refuse, you'll be denied access to the departure gates.  Those who gently explain that they left their wallet at home will be let through with some increased screening.

"After-all,  you're a good boy (or girl) who forgot their driver's license, all you need do is meekly offer a mea culpa and submit to a little extra screening.  To quote the TSA site: "Cooperative passengers without ID may be subjected to additional screening protocols, including enhanced physical screening, enhanced carry-on and/or checked baggage screening, interviews with behavior detection or law enforcement officers and other measures."  Pretty easy if you're a terrorist - what better encouragement would you need to be sure you left your ID at home! Or make sure your fake ID is sufficiently "real".  "    

I wonder what it's like to work for a federal agency that is embarassingly wrong and unpopular DAY -AFTER DAY - AFTER DAY.  We here at BeatTheChip.org are offering career referral services for those who hate working at the DHS.  Hey- the pay at The Gap is competetive with what TSA is offering.  I mean if you're going to work for "the man" - you might as well be the nice guy giving people what they may actually need.   You could do mall security enforcement opposed to working for TSA- without all the crappy post 9-11 hype.  By screening a soccer mom and her 3 irritable brats trying to board the plane back from grandma's house you are not increasing the nation's security.  You end up being government cheese causing major constipation.  Don't kid yourself - no one in your graduating class wanted to grow up and be a TSA enforcement agent.

We can help.

A Letter to Lewis Black RE: Identity Guard

Here is a letter written to Lewis Black's people, Comedy Central's host of The Root of Evil :

Dear Lewis Black  & Associates ; 

This is a response to Lewis Black's recent work with Identity Guard.

I am a part of a growing coalition of citizens against Real ID's.  If everyone has to get a Real ID after December 31st, 2009, everyone's identity will be wide open to hackers and identity theft. The database systems available to DMV's are not secure.  The DHS is aware of this and is aware that it is very well documented to the public.  Therefore, my interest grew in the Identity Guard product.

Here is my problem with Identity Guard.  There is virtually no company or location or public service information outside of what's on their website.   You are just supposed to fork over your money and your identity and believe that everything is ok.

Well, it turns out that Identity Guard is in league with some questionable Beaverton, OR tech companies and Identity Guard's ad campaign is being handled by the same agency handling Halliburton, DynCorp, Cisco, TSA disaster magnet employers -Pearson, Saudi Arabia and MedImmune- the poison pharmaceutical bailout now known as AstraZeneca.

Here is what it looks like:  Lewis Black was either 1) duped or 2) sold out to a corporation poised to feed on on the upcoming tsunami of people willing to "pay for protection" because their government is about to deliver their identity into the hands of (real or imagined) identity thieves who can all too easily plumb the lines of the newly centralized DMV databases.

Lewis Black was doing great work to correctly inform this country and it would be a horrific shame if he were silenced by corporate fascists.

I hope he's allright.

Sheila Dean

BeatTheChip.org/ 511Campaign.org

MONKEY WRENCHING THE REAL ID

AUSTIN, TX - Big fat thanks to the Austin Chronicle for posting the following:

TEXANS AGAINST REAL IDs- This gathering of concerned citizens will discuss how best to stop Real ID's, one of the many ill-conceived riders from the War on Terror legislative blitz of 2005. 7:30pm. Monkey Wrench Books, 110 E. North Loop,  407-MBWK. Free.

SO .. if you connect with words like "social issues", "green party, "Marxism" or the ACLU or "Progressive democracy" - The Monkey Wrench meeting is calling your name.  From here we will equip you with whatever legislative tools will boost your advocacy against Real ID's.    Today and tomorrow, the Texas State Democratic convention will be covering all of their reform committee agendas - an anti-Real ID was not on it.

Look for an article in the future from the Lone Star Iconoclast about what the 5-11 Committee is doing.  We are in the midst of organizing a fundraiser. The 5-11 beta version of our website will be live in about 3 days.

It seemed to take forever to get BeatTheChip on the map - but right now the issue is filling in the lines with quality content that will reinforce the best bets for THE KILL OF REAL ID.

Virtual Committee Meeting Under 8lbs of Dreads

One of the 5-11 committee members on our broadcast and public affairs team is the one and only, Guymon Adams, who does a show called Liberty After Dark on Revere Radio Network.  Take for granted that his audience is attuned for news of a Constitutional nature and keeping tabs New World Order agendas. While partisan policy makers all have public documents and PAC's developing the North American Union -the Amero is at the US mint  - there are a few people in the Global Elite camp who really don't want you to dwell on those facts. Unlike Jamison Foser at Media Matters, Guymon won't tell you that the NAU is a myth.   It would really help us all if it didn't exist, but there's a budget for it in the taxpayer reports. They really aren't doing a great job of hiding it. NONETHELESS , our public affairs hero has finally posted an archived account of yet another virtual 5-11 Campaign Committee Meeting.

Without further ado, I bring you Modern Rock-meets-WPTRN,  Guymon Adams broadcast heroics on the May 16th broadcast.