The Blog feature will be launched on February 24, 2010.
Sorry for any inconvenience.
Meantime, below is something to consider.
Government in Your Life
1-8-10
In 1993, a centerpiece of the proposed Hillary Health Care plan was the "smart social security card". The proposed card design included a chip that would make one's medical records portable. The data was to be loaded and downloaded to and from the chip in the smart card. The health care measure failed.
Over each of the next several years, Congress worked to pass a requirement for a national identity card. This started in 1993 and happened every year thereafter. No luck. The 9-11 Tragedy gave them the opening they wanted. Congress made a requirement for states to take part in a national identity card program using driver's licenses. It met with resistance. But, after a few modifications they made a new law.
The current law (Real ID, 2005) requires the states to have a uniform driver's license that can be used to allow bearers access to federal buildings, airports and federal benefit programs. The new system is in place and operating. All old licenses will be replaced with the new uniform format driver's license by the end of 2013.
When you get your new driver's license, don't expect to pick it up at the time you take the tests or transfer from another state. There is a new wrinkle. Licenses are now issued from your state capitol. But not before your information is loaded into a national data base in Washington. This is identified as a "security check". Your license will arrive in the mail, but only after successful completion of the "security check".
Concerns were expressed by congressmen and state administrators who didn't want the new law. They are afraid of an increase in identity theft. How could that happen?
If one uses a check for a purchase at Wal-Mart, they will use your driver's license to verify your identity. But, they have to make certain the license is valid. Now, if they wanted, and probably do, your transaction at Wal-Mart is likely recorded. Maybe not the details, but to show you were at Wal-Mart.
The national identity card could be used to track you and your buying habits. It is not known if the card is being used for that purpose, but it certainly could. If one went to an emergency room of a hospital and they had an outstanding warrant, it would not surprise anyone if that person was taken into custody before they left the emergency room.
The real purpose of the database is likely to have a list of citizens who are old enough to vote. Then, the information could be used to register voters and vote for them. The current administration is quietly pushing Universal Voter Registration. Could be a tie-in.
The next question has to be as to who is maintaining the database. Is it the federal government or Axciom? Likely it is Axciom. They have a better data base of addresses than the US Postal Service. Not to worry. They have only been hacked successfully one time. Sure the hacker got thousands of names and other data. It was "likely a fluke". But, it happened.
No matter who is maintaining the database the feds could, maybe do, track you as you go through your daily life.
You probably have not heard much about this uniform driver's license. It hasn't even been newsworthy at the state level.
While I was waiting to be photographed for my license, I noted that there have been several changes in the driver's license process. The vision test is very brief. The short written test can be passed with no study. The driving test consists of circling the block. Everything in the process is quick and easy. That doesn't mean it is thorough. It appears the process exists for the purpose of issuing as many licenses as possible in the shortest possible time. It appears they want us all in the data base.
These same procedures apply to a state identification card. Now, all adults can be in the central data base.
END OF PAGE
