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February 11, 2005
Real ID Act of 2005
For the most part, I go about my daily business much like any other American, which includes the various privileges that someone with a decent-paying job would enjoy. Under those circumstances, it's not hard to forget how shenanigans in Washington can affect me and my environment.
Enter the Real ID Act of 2005, which purports to increase security by making it harder for terrorists to obtain driver's licences. For the most part, I'd largely ignored the issue as a "sucks to be them" thing for the undocumented immigrants that need a licence to go about their (mostly) legitimate business of earning a living.
That was until I found out that driver's licences would expire along with any visa that you might hold. In my case, I have to obtain a new visa every year. This implies that I would have to get a new driver's licence every year.
That would be a real pain in the ass.
So, selfishly motivated to read up more on this, I really see very little merit in this piece of legislation. This doesn't come from a knee-jerk reaction, but from a decent amount of research and assessment. A very concise summary of the bill's shortcomings can be read at the People for the American Way.
The basic gist of it is this:
- The proposed measures would not have prevented any of the 9/11 terrorists from obtaining their driver's licences. They did that with "legal" documents that were fraudulently obtained. The proposed measures do not address how to prevent being suckered in by this method.
- Immigrants who aren't able to obtain driver's licences aren't going to stop driving to continue to make their incomes. The unintentional consequence would be a giant slew of unlicensed drivers. Irresponsible driving would be another unintentional consequence as the unlicensed driver would have an incentive to run after an accident, lest they get caught unlicensed.
- It puts a strain on state motor vehicle departments to play "immigration officer". The cost of implementing the plans would presumably come from state budgets.
- States that are unwilling or unable to comply would have their highway funds withheld. There's a double whammy. Spend money or lose money, and there's no guarantee that there's going to be an equitable trade in there at all. If nothing else, the highway system loses out as money that could have gone toward their upkeep would be diverted to maintaining the interlinked database system that is proposed.
- This is one step closer to a national ID card system.
- Oh, and it gives the Secretary of Homeland Security sweeping powers to waive laws without judicial review along the borders. Ostensibly, this is so that DHS can circumvent EPA laws that apply to a certain stretch of USA-Mexico fencing, but the law would mean it would apply to up to 7500 miles or so of border.
Just what are they smoking over there?
Posted by KinCross at 12:37 PM | Comments (3)
February 09, 2005
Gung Hay Fat Choy!
Or as the Manchus say, "Gung Xi Fa Cai!"
Or Happy New Year of the Rooster! "Cock," if you prefer, but that's just a blatant ploy to get myself into some interesting search terms.
Either way, wishing you all a great year and, for the Chinese folks, lots of red envelopes.
Now, if I can just figure out where to go see some lions...
Posted by KinCross at 12:24 AM | Comments (4)
February 08, 2005
An Athlete's Prayer
I'm not the praying type, but if I were ever asked to give one for atheletes, I like this one by Gregg Easterbrook:
God, let me play well but fairly.
Let competition make me strong but never hostile.
Forbid me to rejoice in the adversity of others.
See me not when I am cheered, but when I bend to help my opponent up.
If I know victory, allow me to be happy;
if I am denied, keep me from envy.
Remind me that sports are just games.
Help me to learn something that matters once the game is over.
And if through athletics I set an example, let it be a good one.
Posted by KinCross at 10:04 AM | Comments (0)
February 06, 2005
Superbowl
Don't know what the final numbers are yet, but I can definitely say that "stomping" would be a good descriptor for my final playoff fantasy football results. I was alread 30 points up on the next guy going into the Superbowl and I had McNabb, Branch, and the Patriots D playing.
McNabb threw three touchdowns and two interceptions, had just over 350 yards passing. ~28 points
Branch had 133 yards receiving. ~13 points
Patriots D had (at least) 4 sacks and 3 interceptions. ~14 points
I'm treating for lunch tomorrow.
Oh, and way to go Pats! I love it when the team wins the Superbowl. I love those guys.
Posted by KinCross at 11:26 PM | Comments (0)