In 2007, Maine became the first state in the country to formally reject the proposed national ID card program, REAL ID. The ACLU of Maine played a key role in organizing the opposition to REAL ID here in Maine (and across the country)--from civil rights advocates, libertarians, privacy activists, and people of every kind of political view who don't want this country to be one where authorities are able to constantly demand, "Show me your papers!"
But despite widespread opposition to this flawed, unworkable, overly burdensome, overly costly law, the federal government has never gotten around to repealing it. Now, some are suggesting that Maine ought to drop its opposition and go along with the program. That would be wrong. It is easy to let inertia set in--after all, that is what has happend at the federal level--but Maine started the national opposition to REAL ID and we need to see it through to the finish.
REAL ID is a real nightmare. It is time for Congress to wake up.
