(2005) Ron Paul: The Real ID Card is a National ID

(US House of Representatives - February 10, 2005) Congressman Ron Paul opposes a National ID. Starting on May 11, 2008, Americans will need a federally approved, "machine readable" ID card.
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(Transcript)

...With the utmost sincerity and a deep conviction, I am quite confident that this bill, if you vote for it, you will be voting for a national ID card. I know some will argue against that and they say this is voluntary, but it really cannot be voluntary. If a State opts out, nobody is going to accept their driver's license. So this is not voluntary.

As a matter of fact, even the House Republican Conference, which sent a statement around with some points about this bill, said "the Federal Government should set standards for the issuance of birth certificates and sources of identification such as driver's licenses."

This is nationalization of all identification. It will be the confirmation of the notion that we will be carrying our papers.

As a matter of fact, I think it might be worse than just carrying our papers and showing our papers, because in this bill there are no limitations as to the information that may be placed on this identification card. There are minimum standards, but no maximum limitations.

The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security can add anything it wants. So if they would like to put on our driver's license that you belong to a pro-gun group, it may well become mandatory, because there may be an administration some day that might like to have that information.

But there is no limitation as far as biometrics and there is no limitation as far as radio frequency identification. That technology is already available and being used on our passports. This means that you do not have to show your papers. All you have to do is walk by somebody that has a radio frequency ability to read your passport or read your driver's license. There is no limitation as to what they can put on these documents.

This bill also allows the definition of "terrorism" to be re-defined. There are no limitations.

In many ways I understand how well intentioned this is, but to me it is sort of like the gun issue. Conservatives always know that you do not register guns, that is just terrible, because the criminals will not register their guns. But what are we doing with this bill? We are registering all the American people, and your goal is to register the criminals and the thugs and the terrorists.

Well, why does a terrorist need a driver's license? They can just steal a car or steal an airplane or steal a bus or whatever they want to do. So you are registering all the American people because you are looking for a terrorist, and all the terrorist is going to do is avoid the law. But we all, the American people, will have to obey the law. If we do not, we go to prison.

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The day before (February 9, 2005), Ron Paul spoke against HR 418, the REAL ID Act, before the US House of Representatives.

"HR 418- A National ID Bill Masquerading as Immigration Reform"

(Transcript)

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to HR 418, the REAL ID Act. This bill purports to make us safer from terrorists who may sneak into the United States, and from other illegal immigrants. While I agree that these issues are of vital importance, this bill will do very little to make us more secure. It will not address our real vulnerabilities. It will, however, make us much less free. In reality, this bill is a Trojan horse. It pretends to offer desperately needed border control in order to stampede Americans into sacrificing what is uniquely American: our constitutionally protected liberty.

What is wrong with this bill?

The REAL ID Act establishes a national ID card by mandating that states include certain minimum identification standards on driver's licenses. It contains no limits on the government's power to impose additional standards. Indeed, it gives authority to the Secretary of Homeland Security to unilaterally add requirements as he sees fit.

Supporters claim it is not a national ID because it is voluntary. However, any state that opts out will automatically make non-persons out of its citizens. The citizens of that state will be unable to have any dealings with the federal government because their ID will not be accepted. They will not be able to fly or to take a train. In essence, in the eyes of the federal government they will cease to exist. It is absurd to call this voluntary.
...
[ http://www.gunowners.org/op0506.htm ]

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• usa
• election
• 2008
• constitution
• liberty
• privacy
• ron
• paul
• real
• id
• card
• national

[stormbringerr0]

i wish Texas would succeed and elect Paul as president.

[jaralero]

Hey stormbringerr0, same wish here, thumbs up!

'Though, that's a typical bungle ;D

SUCCEED: to come after, to accomplish. From Latin -succedere-, sub- (under) -cedere (to give, to yield).

SECEDE: to break away, to go apart. From Latin -secedere-, se- (apart) -cedere (to give, to yield).

[Felix1085]

Ron Paul has been fighting for the American People his whole life.

[scarface677]

damn ron paul is awesome. he seems like the only political figure that stands up for the common man and the constitution. im sure there r others but hes just so outspoken he really shines. ron paul for 2012 president if the US still exists.

[The6ChickMagnet]

God Bless Ron paul; I don't think his soul will ever rest until america is how thomas jefferson envisioned it (minus the whole slaves part hahah)

[libertytooth]

in our constitution we have the right to traval, why do we even need an ID in the first place

[libertytooth]

@scarface677 its 2011 we might stand a chance lol

[yangban30]

What we always have been using worked fine! They mask their TRUE agenda with security and humanitarian intentions in order to infiltrate by winning trust, INTENTIONALLY..it's pretty transparent..."If it ain't broke, don't fix it."..Total control is much better achieved if it is set up in such a way that when asked " How did this happen?"..the only fault to be found is OURS.

[777jeru]

@iamisrael777 You ain't never lied my friend! Thats the absolute truth! This national I.D. card. Is nothing but another form of the mark of the beast. But actually your Social Security Number and Birth Certificate is the first form. Of the mark that beast and/or anit-christ first branded us all with. So the mark of the beast has already been us all with from birth. "Check the scrip."

[riadse87]

I don't think this is it...

[iamisrael777]

This real id card is the mark of the beast REVELATION 13,16,17,18 Good work Paul!