For those who thought that it was only busted old non-arms-bearing monarchies that indulge in this sort of thing, comes proof that America is not too far behind in the pointless and stupid fascism stakes.

[news.com.com]

What’s all the fuss with the Real ID Act about?

President Bush is expected to sign an $82 billion military spending bill soon that will, in part, create electronically readable, federally approved ID cards for Americans. The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the package–which includes the Real ID Act–on Thursday.

How will I get one of these new ID cards?

You’ll still get one through your state motor vehicle agency, and it will likely take the place of your drivers’ license. But the identification process will be more rigorous.

For instance, you’ll need to bring a “photo identity document,” document your birth date and address, and show that your Social Security number is what you had claimed it to be. U.S. citizens will have to prove that status, and foreigners will have to show a valid visa.

State DMVs will have to verify that these identity documents are legitimate, digitize them and store them permanently. In addition, Social Security numbers must be verified with the Social Security Administration.

What’s the justification for this legislation anyway?

Its supporters say that the Real ID Act is necessary to hinder terrorists, and to follow the ID card recommendations that the 9/11 Commission made last year.

It will “hamper the ability of terrorist and criminal aliens to move freely throughout our society by requiring that all states require proof of lawful presence in the U.S. for their drivers’ licenses to be accepted as identification for federal purposes such as boarding a commercial airplane, entering a federal building, or a nuclear power plant,” Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner, a Wisconsin Republican, said during the debate Thursday.

etc, etc…

If your birth certificate has to be verified as legitimate, digitized and stored permanently, then why bother issuing them at all? If ID cards will prevent terrorism, why does ETA still exist in Spain? Precisely how will it make life better, except for giving police yet another excuse to pull you over?

<IRONY> Now, a National Loyalty Card would be another proposition altogether, and very much in the American vigilante tradition, too! Texans could get bonus points for shooting liberals and other kinds of pedophile, thus saving the state the cost of potassium chloride. </IRONY>