Bruce Schneier has posted a scathing critique of the US REAL ID bill. When I read this, the following thought went through my head, "Hey, I cannot fly in Canada without showing ID - I thought this was a free country without checkpoints." The following quote makes Schneier's compelling position very clear.

Schneier on Security: REAL ID: "REAL ID doesn't go into effect until three years after it becomes law, but I expect things to be much worse by then. One of my fears is that this new uniform driver's license will bring a new level of 'show me your papers' checks by the government. Already you can't fly without an ID, even though no one has ever explained how that ID check makes airplane terrorism any harder. I have previously written about Secure Flight, another lousy security system that tries to match airline passengers against terrorist watch lists. I've already heard rumblings about requiring states to check identities against 'government databases' before issuing driver's licenses. I'm sure Secure Flight will be used for cruise ships, trains, and possibly even subways. Combine REAL ID with Secure Flight and you have an unprecedented system for broad surveillance of the population.

Is there anyone who would feel safer under this kind of police state?"