Montana governor fights Real ID fascism

Real ID is an attempt by the Bush regime to establish a mandatory national ID card by forcing the states to make their driver's licenses and other ID's conform to a set of rules barked down from Washington. Real ID would also force states to share confidential information about their citizens. All of this would cost each state millions.

While the Wal-Nuts and chickenhawks swagger endlessly about the alleged greatness of Real ID, supporters of local autonomy and freedom of movement are deeply troubled by it. Maine became the first state to stand up for its people by refusing to comply with Real ID, and other states followed suit. Now, Gov. Brian Schweitzer of Montana, a Democrat, has taken what is perhaps the bravest shot yet against the forces of groupthink by asking governors of 17 other states to help him force an all-out face-off with the authoritarian federal government over Real ID.

Montana was already among the states to pass a law declaring it will not comply with Real ID. But no governor has gone as far as Schweitzer in fighting for freedom from Real ID, which is an unfunded mandate that was decreed by a rogue federal regime.

"Today, I am asking you to join with me in resisting the DHS coercion to comply with the provisions of REAL ID," Schweitzer said in his letter to the other governors. "If we stand together either DHS will blink or Congress will have to act to avoid havoc at our nation's airports and federal courthouses." That's because the Bush regime wants to require the federal ID's just to fly on a plane. State ID's would no longer be good enough.

But get this: Laura Keehner, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Suckyurity, is telling the public that - if they can't fly because their ID doesn't meet federal guidelines - they should fight their state, not the feds. Seriously, she said that. (Pining for a Conservative Fool Of The Day entry, Laura?)

But if DHS shitbags have their way, it'll get worse. A few days ago, some DHS big shot suggested Real ID should also be required just to buy cold medicine or to prove you're eligible to work.

Here's what I want: Not only do the states need to pass laws refusing to comply. They need to pass laws requiring the existing state ID's to be accepted at airports and federal facilities, without having to meet Real ID rules. And they have to have a long-arm provision so it also applies at airports and facilities in other states. In other words, if you live in Montana and have to fly from, say, the Salt Lake City airport (in Utah, a state that has so far buckled to the feds), and your Montana ID isn't accepted, TSA personnel at the Salt Lake airport would be prosecuted by Montana. I believe states like Montana must do this to protect their people.

And if a state does comply with Real ID, folks there should sue the state for violating their right to privacy. It's already happened in Alaska.

So don't cave to Bush's fascism!

(Source: http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/01/montana-governo.html;
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/03/another_state_p.html)