The Real ID Act is a bad policy and a dubious program, with 17 states, including Tennessee, already adopting legislation opposing the introduction what can only be called a National Identity Card. Once set to begin in 2008, now the Dept. of Homeland Security is aiming for 2011 - unless your birthday is before December 1, 1964, in which case you have until 2018 to get this federal identity card.

Still, only partial details of the re-written rules were offered yesterday [1], as it seems the current law keeps getting punted to the future. It's as if officials know the plan is doomed and will never see the light of day but are afraid of simply repealing the law.

This new ID is meant to be mandatory for every American - without one, you could not open a bank account, buy an airline ticket, collect Social Security benefits (never mind that you have a SS ID card and number), you could not enter any federal facility, and you would not be able to operate a vehicle (never mind that current Drivers License you own.) In addition, security experts have stated the lack of wisdom in creating a single database which would contain so much information which identity thieves require to steal info about you. It would be a one-stop shopping center for identity thieves.

While DHS now says it will reduce the cost of implementation, a cheaper bad idea is still a bad idea.