Technically its for the surveillance system they set up without telling anybody on top of the surveillance systems already in place that you dont know about on top of the NSA

It has nothing to do with security, everything to do with Big Brotherhood. They love having a database of everyone's travels.

Just another step towards internal passports, which are a popular measure in most totalitarian states.

Identity is one of those "danger to the flight" things. Like the 9/11 hijackers didn't bring any weapons on board, they just used force and exploited the compliance of the crew to take control. So if they flag you as a known terrorist, they stop you getting on the plane.

In theory. In practice I don't think the TSA has stopped a single attempt of terrorism, but I also don't think we've had any attempts since 9/11. Whether that's due to the existence of the TSA is impossible to say.

Its just like the TSA precheck and now the third party companies like Clear offering to skip/use minimally invasive security screenings for a small fee.

“Brown people don’t have money HEH GOTTEM”

The law was passed in 2005 and so many states kept complaining. And frankly, those states are getting punished.

Every state that has their shit together has been Real ID compliant for at least a decade.

Fun fact: They were pushing it back because some states wouldn't accelerate the process of making their standard state IDs compliant. They finally said no more delays.

WA state IDs are still not universally REAL ID compliant, you have to get a separate compliant state ID via an appointment. Unless as I noted above you have one of the other documents (passport, passport card, green card, military id, etc.)

Because a passport is registered with the state department and is by nature more "real" than a real ID

Thank you, I was about to say...

Current list of acceptable IDs:

• REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)

  • If you are not sure if your ID complies with REAL ID, check with your state department of motor vehicles.
  • A temporary driver’s license is not an acceptable form of identification.

• State-issued Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)

// “State-issued Enhanced Driver's Licenses and identification cards (EDL/EID) are designated as acceptable border-crossing documents by DHS under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative and are an acceptable alternative to a REAL ID”//

• U.S. passport

• U.S. passport card

• DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)

• U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents

• Permanent resident card

• Border crossing card

• An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs)

• HSPD-12 PIV card

• Foreign government-issued passport

• Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card

• Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)

• U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential

• Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

You don't technically need any ID to fly, it just becomes more of a pain in the ass. Just like you don't technically need to go through the body scanner, but again, it becomes more of a pain in the ass.

How to get a REAL ID and use it for travel, https://www.usa.gov/real-id

Global Entry card is a REAL ID

The issue was that every state has different requirements for what's on a driver's license, photo ID, adult ID... Etc. this also includes Tribal Reservations.

The real ID Concept was to at least provide some organization nation wide.

I don't have a problem with it because my state was already Real ID compliant since a decade ago. And if you got an ID, you're good.

It's an upgraded id/license... with more paper work attached like a passport but without the perks of one...

Also you can have both an id and a driver's license...

A driver's license can be used as an id...

Make sense

The us is really stupid for many reasons. 50+ patchwork systems for stuff everyone needs, like ID, is one of them. Using a driver's license for ID is another.

Sounds stupid but honestly I'm down with it. I worked at a bank checking IDs and I'm sure more than once I wrongly suspended accounts due to fake IDs because the US can't fucking get it together when it comes to what an ID even is.

Been there, didn't enjoy it much, you're not missing anything.

They always do it in smaller steps. Anyone who has watched society for the last 20 years sees the same pattern over and over again.

At some point they simply remove passports.

Typically it's your birth certificate, Social Security card, and two forms of proof of residency (utility bills, etc).

Unless you're married/divorced with a name that doesn't match your birth certificate - then you get the added requirement of a marriage certificate/other proof of name change.