The Endangered Real ID Act of 2005

by Steve Meyer

STOP REAL ID COALITION (Feb 26, 2008) Power, greed, and politics, an ugly mix that has produced fascism time and time again across the centuries.

Americans are the first people to have their inherent rights recognized not as a privilege but instead as their birthright, unrelated to the government they elect.

Yet today those rights have been converted to privileges. The mere utterance of opposition to the whims and whimpers of those in self supposed authority is punished, viewed as a form of terrorism. The mistreatment of activists who challenge legislation is therefore something we must challenge immediately and with the full force of our movement.

Mark Lerner is an activist for freedom, one of a very few who are committed to ensuring that Americans retain ownership of their own information and that their privacy and real security is respected.

He and those like him, those who seek to oppose tyrannical laws by confronting the issues in a proper forum before legislature, should be embraced. Yet Mark has suffered incarceration, harassment and endangerment. He dared to confront those who are determined to inflict on us the Real ID. Worse from their viewpoint, he has been successful.

Two weeks ago Mark Lerner was going about the work of stopping the Real ID. He is one of the best informed and most experienced activists on the issue of the Real ID. It was his testimony to Congress that informed legislators of the problematic accuracy of the biometrics being used with the Real ID; it was Mark who pointed out the conflict of allowing those who will profit and have access to be the same corporations whose record of reliability in respecting our privacy is so tainted. He learned these things while acting to make the Real ID happen. He changed his mind and sides because for Mark the truth, and freedom, matter.

He is determined to halt the Real ID Act of 2005. It can be done; it must be done. We’ve been doing it.

The time is now. Let’s send a clear message to those advocates of the Real ID. Mark is now completing his work in Oklahoma. Organizing in other states, appointments with legislators, briefings, and media events. Help Mark, and those working with him, stop the Real ID. Hold on to your right to own and control your most private information. Know that you can change your bank account, you can change your Social Security Number, but you can never change your biometrics. Once your biometrics are compromised, they are compromised forever.

Send a clear message today! A contribution of one hundred dollars by each of us would show that the people support the Stop Real ID Coalition. It will send a powerful message to the Real ID advocates. And it will reassure the Governors and legislators who have stood with us for the repeal of the Real ID Act. This is the work that needs doing and the message that must be heard. Help us stop the Real ID in your state now before it is too late.

Return often, as we will be updating this site with late breaking news as it develops. And believe me, we will be in the news in the weeks to come. Some exciting things are beginning to happen. Be a part of the action! Join us.