Re: REAL ID

In reviewing the U.S. Constitution, I do not see anywhere under Article 1 Section 8 which clearly states the powers that Congress shall have, the power to create a national identification system. The powers not delegated to the United States, which includes the power to create or regulate state issued identification cards, are reserved to the States. The National ID system called REAL ID is obviously unConstitutional. However, since most in Congress have not cared to read the Constitution in context of its purpose or taken their oath to protect it seriously, then they easily without forethought, passed the REAL ID. The REAL ID is not only unConstitutional but anti-American in the mythological senses of a free people unburdened by tyrannical state power. A free people, which we are supposed to be, at least in our own myths, should not have to 'show their papers' to travel or petition their government. Traveling is a recognized Constitutional Right and those who exercise that right should not shoulder the burden of proving who they are but that burden should fall on the government to prove in fact that it needs to know the identity of any one individual. Petitioning the government is another right guaranteed and it should not be interfered with by the government requiring citizens to show their REAL ID. The REAL ID is basically an internal travel passport which gives the false sense of improving security while diminishing it in the process. It is sets the stage for increasing the numbers of Americans who lives are destroyed by id theft, it is a burden to tax payers who will have to pay for it, and it sets the stage for turning the drivers license into an information storehouse for purposes of tracking, monitoring and controlling the people. The REAL ID should be repealed and done so immediately.

In Liberty,
Michael

Michael D. Ostrolenk