> *Pfffft* Security. Funny word. Synonym for "Control". Besides, what's life without a little risk? I'm convinced that if we simply lightened up by just a teensy-weensy little bit, countries wouldn't view the US as a major pain-in-the-neck kind of country.

The U.S. is heading in a bad direction. I concur that "control" over the people is being tightened in the name of "security." That said, I think you'll find that U.S. citizens still have more freedoms than citizens of most other countries in the western world.

In any case, in my opinion, the Real ID plan is doomed to failure, for the expression reason that it is only a standard, not an implementation. Basically it says, "Hey states! Check these procedures out!" If the states all say, "Yeah, that's awesome, let's do it!" then we have something to be concerned about.

So far, it's too early to tell. A few states look like they're going to do it (including two big ones, unfortunately, Texas and California). On the other hand, Maine overwhelmingly passed a resolution in its House and Senate to refuse implementation of Real ID. And New Hampshire, I am pleased to say, looks like it will follow suit, although there is some sort of protracted muddle with different versions of the bill floating around.

In the meantime, there is some talk that this mess with Real ID *effectively* means that a more solid national ID plan won't happen at least until it's cleaned up. So it may be a good thing.