Real ID

Atrios concisely pins down some of the problems of the newly-enacted Real ID legislation aimed at synchronizing information of documented Americans:

Sure, This Will Work

Idiots

Congress passed the Real ID Act last May and gave states three years to implement it. It laid out minimum national standards for licenses, which will have to include a digital photo, anti-counterfeiting features and machine-readable technology.

States will have to verify all documents presented to support license applications, such as birth certificates, Social Security cards and utility bills, with the issuing agency, and will be required to link their license databases so they can all be accessed as a single network.

...

Another Real ID Act requirement is that a person's license and Social Security card must bear the same name, which must be the real name -- not a nickname or shortened version.

Atrios doesn't go into any further detail. But there are two things we can expect from this legislation that will likely do nothing to further security of Americans: Expect much, much, much more beaurocracy at a local level. This legistlation forces any government site to cross check many more identity references than is necessary. So, for instance, those 6 hour DMV lines have instantly been stretched into potentially week-long or more. The DMV now has to staff and check every single identity reference themselves. They will have to call up to 10 individual identity reference organizations, talk to them on the phone, etc. If you provide your energy bill as a reference, the DMV will have to call them. How long is your average wait with the energy company now, 20 minutes or more? Plus, now, they'll have to call every other reference as well for confirmation.

Coupled with every other social institution we've relied upon, and the fear mongering for an "American identity" ushered in by the GOP's response to terror, and they've just created the most invasive and bureaucratic society since Communist Poland fell. We'd all like to think we'd be safer because of it, but it's very unlikely. Thanks a bundle, fellas.