The experiences and exploits of a college grad trying to make it in the "real world:" leaving school and friends in New England, moving south, and living with her boyfriend. Watch as I pretend to be an adult.
Last week I raged against the moral minority, saying I felt their actions were indicative of a greater overall shift in the social and political scene here in America. I hate it when I'm right. Wait, no...I love it when I'm right. But not in this case. Yesterday, in a unanimous vote, the Senate passed a bill that I think is one of the most serious blows to American freedom since the McCarthy era. This bill enacted two pieces of legislation that are so infuriating to me, I honestly can't decide which I hate more. Touted as an 'immigration security' bill, and attached to the must-pass bill allocating money for soldiers in Iraq, the Real ID bill first creates federal standards for state driver's licenses, and second, creates the position of Secretary of Homeland Security and outlines the duties and powers of said position. First things first: The new Drivers license. Three years from now, we will have to get new driver's licenses. These will have all of our personal information stored on them in an electronically readable form. This information will include our full name, identification number, address, and digital picture, at the least. When applying for this new DL, not only will we be forced to bring the usual SS card and birth certificate, we will have to bring along proof of residency. That means utility bills to prove we reside where we say we reside. Oh, and did I mention? State DMVs (or RMVs for you Northerners) will also be required to maintain databases of all of this information, and share it with the federal government. Yes, that's right. That means that the US government will now have a database of the personal information of nearly every single American citizen that can be obtained with the swipe of a card. Make no mistake about it: This is essentially a National ID card. Now, let me point out that this will be a de facto and not a de jure National ID card- a National ID card in practice, but not in law. Even the current Congress knows the American people will not be forced into a mandatory ID card. But how many Americans drive? Even more than that, a driver's license has become the identification card of choice. If you want to purchase age restricted products, travel by plane, train, or bus, gain entry into a club or bar, open a bank account, or in some cases, even make a purchase by credit card (many of the major clothing store lines now require photo id backup), you need a driver's license. There is only one other option out there that carries the same standing- the US Passport. And in case you haven't heard, they're putting the same technology in passports starting soon. So no help there. This is scary enough. A driver's license should be simply that- proof that your state of residence has tested you and found you competent to operate a motor vehicle. This legislation perverts the original intent of the DL, takes power away from the states, and, to add insult to injury, makes them pay for it. That means our taxes will go up, baby. Moving on: The Secretary of Homeland Security. The Secretary of Homeland Security will be in charge of domestic "border control and strengthening." He will have the power to "waive any and all laws that he determines necessary, in his sole discretion, to ensure the expeditious construction of barriers and roads under IIRIRA ยง 102..." On top of that, it prohibits "judicial review of a waiver decision or action by the Secretary and bar judicially ordered compensation or injunction or other remedy for damages alleged to result from any such decision or action." What does that mean? No Judicial Review. No Supreme Court. Doing away with the third section of the Checks and Balances system our Constitution lays out. This is incredibly serious. Judicial Review is what keeps overzealous legislatures and presidents in check. Without it, Roe v. Wade, the civil rights movement, the worker's rights campaigns following the industrial revolution never would have happened. I haven't even begun to discuss how this will affect immigrants seeking asylum and refugees. Please. Write your Senator. Write your Representative. Read more about this. I still can't believe this. I am crushed.
