The NY Times ran an article yesterday on the uniform national ID card. The thing I find most astonishing about this issue is the fight between the states and the feds. Both conservatives and liberals are backing states-rights. Both conservatives and liberals are, conversely, backing the federal push to standardize drivers licenses.
A Missouri Republican is working with two dozen other states to oppose the federal law. He said, "This is a frontal assault on our freedoms. One state standing alone is not enough. But we are already gaining strong momentum here." A Wisconsin Republican and top officials at the Department of Homeland Security said they were disturbed by the growing signs of a revolt. The Wisconsin Congressman said, "Certainly, it is a threat."
The government is fighting the government.
As we've been studying civics and political science recently, one of the main messages of the Uncle Eric books has been to watch the quest for power. It's not ultimately about what's "conservative" or "liberal," about what's Republican or Democrat, about what will be done with the political power once a person or group has gained it, but simply about the quest to obtain power and the desire to use it. This can be readily seen as both the liberals and the conservatives are in-fighting over this Real ID Act.
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Ya know what cracks me up about this?
ReplyDeleteBack in 2005! when this passed Congress, tinfoil hat wearing conspiracy wackos like me (just look at the picture!) were b!tching up a storm!
*NOW* it's news. NOW people are complaining about it. NOW states are doing something about it or talking about it.
(sigh)
At least some folks are waking up, but the train is out of the station. Rebellion by the states is gonna hurt their highway budgets. They should still fight it, but they should have been fighting it for a long time now.
Papiere Bitte!!