Letter to Editor: Real ID (ouch) and Ron Paul (yes)

Mark Crowley, fellow Libertarian, of Plum, wrote:

I had a LTE today (12/13/2007) in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review urging support of bills in the PA legislature to not implement the Real ID.

This was my fifth LTE on this general topic that I've submitted to assorted newspapers recently, but it's the only one to get printed. I suspect none before were printed because they didn't respond to something written in the papers. Right now the Real ID is below media radar.

I think this one was printed because today the Trib also chose to print an LA Times story where Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff said we need the Real ID. The Trib's front page below the fold story was titled, "Chertoff renews call for national ID." I think this getting printed has more to do with dumb luck than persistence.

Mark

PS -- I'm 2 for 2 on Ron Paul LTEs. I never dreamed Real ID LTEs would be that ignored more than ones about Ron Paul!

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http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/s_542472.html

Stop Real ID


In 2008 Pennsylvania begins implementing a federalized driver's license mandate called the "Real ID" that will include personal and biometric data linking us to government databases.

Like gun control, it will penalize innocent law-abiding citizens with higher fees and taxes, more bureaucracy, greater inconvenience, increased privacy risks and questionable security. Criminals and terrorists will work to exploit the ID's false sense of security.

Negotiations are also under way to share database access now among future participants of the North American Union and NAFTA Superhighway.

South Carolina, Maine, New Hampshire and Montana have rejected Real ID. There's hope that Pennsylvania will too.

We must urge our state legislators to reject Real ID. In the House ask your state representative to support H.B. 1351. In the Senate, ask your state senator to support Sen. Folmer's anti-Real ID legislation (bill number not assigned yet).

Act soon. If you're not worried about identity theft and illegal immigration now, wait until Mexico's bureaucracy has your personal and biometric data.

Mark Crowley, Plum