36 States Appear to Agree With Ron Paul on REAL (bad) ID (ea)

"Within a week of Maine's action, lawmakers in Georgia, Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, Vermont and Washington state also balked at Real ID. They are expected soon to pass laws or adopt resolutions declining to participate in the federal identification network."

"When the Real ID act was first offered, it was a stand alone bill. Republicans lined up behind it like good soldiers of Bush generaled by Tom Delay. Ron Paul was the most vocal opponent talking to anyone who would listen and encouraging activists to contact their representatives in congress.

Some democrats opposed Real ID, but mostly for very different reasons, not the least of which was their opposition to provisions included in Real ID that would allow completion of the San Diego border fence over certain environmental objections.

The Bill eventually was packaged with the emergency supplemental bill for Iraq war funding which meant very few in congress would oppose it lest they be branded unpatriotic.

Happily, resistance to Real ID, in spite of it's preemptive measures, seems to be gaining traction at the state level. I can't help but wonder how much is based on objection to the police state measures or how much is simply fiscal reality but i am pleased so far nonetheless.

Senator John Sununu of New Hampshire objected in the senate, has offered legislation and will supposedly do so again that would repeal REAL ID. Although it appears the Sununu repeal would likely revert to the Intelligence Reform Act Drivers License requirements which were a joint Federal and State effort, any Repeal of Real ID is a good start.

Still however, Ron Paul is the only legislator who has been willing to confront the "dirty little secret" contained within Real ID. It is a provision which requires adherence to something called the "Drivers License Agreement". The DLA is a separate agreement between states (including Mexico and Canada). The combination of the DLA and Real ID results in the requirement that driver's information (as determined by the Department of Homeland Security not by congress - which could include social security number, personal data, biometric or any other data deemed necessary) be databased not only nationally but linked with the government databases of Mexico and Canada.

With the more recent publicity given to the NAFTA Super Highway, speculation regarding a possible tri-national currency and the Bush administration's seemingly out of line stance on border security / immigration, it should now be clear that Real ID was not about keeping Americans safe. Instead it was one piece of a supranational puzzle intended to provide a means to keep control of an expanded global populace.

Time and again Ron Paul has taken unpopular but principled positions which have been vindicated by history. Standing firm on matters of sovereignty and personal liberty, he has added Real ID to the list."

From - Ron Paul for President Blog
http://ronpaul.rescue-us.org/2007/02/07/update-36-states-now-appear-to-agree-with-paul-on-real-bad-id-ea.aspx
http://www.rescue-us.org/