"And to say that society ought to be governed by the opinion of the wisest and best, though true, is useless. Whose opinion is to decide who are the wisest and best?"

-- Thomas Babington Macaulay, "Southey's Colloquies on Society"

Subject: REAL ID loses in Montana

The federal government is slowly but surely losing the fight to impose REAL ID identity cards on the American people. The people do not want REAL ID. Fourteen other state governments have either neglected to authorize cooperation and implementation, or have passed resolutions of official opposition to the Real ID Act. 

In response, the Feds have tried everything. They've tried to bribe the states, offering money in return for compliance. They've tried extortion too, threatening to deny the states federal funds, or to make it impossible for their citizens to board airplanes.

None of these strong-arm tactics are working.

Last Friday the state of Montana notified the Department of Homeland Security that it will not comply with the REAL ID Act. Montana and other states were supposed to submit to the REAL ID standards by May 11, after which the Transportation Safety Administration was supposed to prevent the citizens of rebellious states from boarding airplanes. Now . . .

The Feds have extended the deadline for Montana to comply.

It is increasingly likely that states like Montana will never submit. For example, South Carolina and Maine appear poised to join Montana in this stage of rebellion. The Feds will probably have to accept the fact that non-cooperation by a handful of states punches big holes in their plan. These holes will make efforts to erect the REAL ID system pointless.

The Feds should end the pretense. Ask Congress to repeal the REAL ID Act. You can do so here.

In other news, we are now just $286 shy of making budget for March, with 5 days to go. Please consider a contribution to help cover this amount, or a monthly pledge so it will be even easier to achieve our target next month. You can do so here.

Thank you for being a part of the growing Downsize DC Army.

Jim Babka

President

DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

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