Amitai on IDs,
In today's Huffington Post, noted scholar, Amitai Etzioni, has some interesting things to say about identification security with regard to the federal Real ID Act. And the guy has certainly done his homework in the ID security arena as part of the Markle Foundation. No question there.
What interests me the most is that he clearly articulates that he is not in favor of a "national ID." You know, I'm not sure that anyone really is in favor of this type of a credential. Certainly not me, and certainly not AAMVA. Nor do I think the American public wants their taxes raised to finance such a system that would need to be built from the ground up.
But what this article further illustrates, and what those who commented about the Etzioni piece echo, is that Americans have chosen to use their driver's license as their primary form of ID. And common sense tells you there is no rolling back the clock there. The horse is already out of the gate.
Etzioni says, "I agree with those who oppose a national ID card, which typically every citizen keeps on their person at all times, and which citizens are required to present on demand, even without having violated any laws or even traffic rules. However, when a person voluntarily seeks to enter a controlled area--whether it is the United States, an airline, select public buildings or ports--he or she should be expected to show a valid ID. Nothing in the Constitution suggests a right to a fake ID. "
So, in lieu of such system as unpopular as the black plaque, the most politically acceptable solution on the table (still) is to build more integrity into the credential we have all chosen to use as our ID of choice: the state-issued driver's license and/or ID. Further, it makes sense for Congress to fund the Real ID Act at a level that befits the task directed to the state motor vehicle agencies.
For now though, the Real ID directive is on the table, the final rules have yet to be published, and states have yet to receive ample funding. Congress can still do it's part to help protect our identities and draft rules for this law that prevent the unnecessary creation of a "national ID."
Until next time, stay safe behind the wheel.
Jason D. King
VP, Public Relations & Info. serv.
AAMVA
jking@aamva.org
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What interests me the most is that he clearly articulates that he is not in favor of a "national ID." You know, I'm not sure that anyone really is in favor of this type of a credential. Certainly not me, and certainly not AAMVA. Nor do I think the American public wants their taxes raised to finance such a system that would need to be built from the ground up.
But what this article further illustrates, and what those who commented about the Etzioni piece echo, is that Americans have chosen to use their driver's license as their primary form of ID. And common sense tells you there is no rolling back the clock there. The horse is already out of the gate.
Etzioni says, "I agree with those who oppose a national ID card, which typically every citizen keeps on their person at all times, and which citizens are required to present on demand, even without having violated any laws or even traffic rules. However, when a person voluntarily seeks to enter a controlled area--whether it is the United States, an airline, select public buildings or ports--he or she should be expected to show a valid ID. Nothing in the Constitution suggests a right to a fake ID. "
So, in lieu of such system as unpopular as the black plaque, the most politically acceptable solution on the table (still) is to build more integrity into the credential we have all chosen to use as our ID of choice: the state-issued driver's license and/or ID. Further, it makes sense for Congress to fund the Real ID Act at a level that befits the task directed to the state motor vehicle agencies.
For now though, the Real ID directive is on the table, the final rules have yet to be published, and states have yet to receive ample funding. Congress can still do it's part to help protect our identities and draft rules for this law that prevent the unnecessary creation of a "national ID."
Until next time, stay safe behind the wheel.
Jason D. King
VP, Public Relations & Info. serv.
AAMVA
jking@aamva.org
<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/%22Real+ID%22" rel="tag"><img style="border:0;vertical-align:middle;margin-left:.4em" src="http://static.technorati.com/static/img/pub/icon-utag-16x13.png?tag=%22Real+ID%22" alt=" " />"Real ID"</a>
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