Thank you, Dale, for another informative article. Your first person story really brings home the impact of the RealID for travel.
I’m flying today - 7 May - and have not planned for extra time at the TSA pre-check, but have three forms of identification beyond my drivers license that qualify as RealIDs. Of course the real story here is how, surely, sooner rather than later state election officials are going to start requiring RealIDs to vote, etc. Ultimately, beyond the privacy issue the ACLU rightly brings up, this is another way for the GOP to keep “those other people” (read eligible voters they don’t want voting) from the rightfully exercising their right to vote.
Safe travels home and please keep sharing these stories with us! 🙏
Dale, I appreciate this personal account as you navigated between an emerging police state in DHS and ICE, and a disintegrating infrastructure in the FAA. Not to mention extreme weather events.
I was particularly struck by that last incident when a fellow passenger was ushered off to who knows where. I don’t want to be caught flat footed someday if I am that bystander or perhaps that passenger. Can you write something about what our options are in those moments? I want to be prepared, as I bet many of us do.
The book « Shock Doctrine « by Naomi Klein explores how the projection of constant fear is an effective tool of citizen control. In the last couple of years we have made multiple long visits to New Zealand and more recently to Singapore.
On our first visit we pondered why people smiled and gave eye contact walking along city streets; sitting at a table adjacent to another occupied, we would be acknowledged with a smile or Hi. What was going on we wondered? Eventually we decided the citizens were comfortable, and NOT afraid. Just going about life and not worrying about us as potentially bad people.
Republicans and associated fascist religions have kept us in fear. We « need » more « protection « ….
Sebastopol spends half the annual budget for police. And the US government spends vast money for weapons to « keep us safe ». No data supports this mythology.
Democrats have pandered to these same fear based mechanisms.
Other countries have made life more comfortable, and don’t live in constant fear.
The new id issues reflect our loss of civility. Bad is the new norm for « progress « supported by voters it seems to me.
I do not have a RealID. My passport has my deadname in it, with a note to "see page 26" which lists my real name as "also known as". I tried to get a reaID, twice, and was told both times that a ReadID driver's liscense would have to have my deadname only. I have used my real name for 42 years.
Dale, I hope that you are having a fun vacation. 🌟And that you make it home to safe, beautiful Sebastopol, where our local Seb Times Paper (emails) sends great, positive, helpful, local information. Except for today, with complaints and false analogies and the intent to send stress.
I have a RealID, got it a few years ago, I think when a (now long past) deadlined loomed and I didnt want to be caught short, which would have been more of a PIA. I went to the DMV in Novato and hardly took any time. While I think it is a shame that 9/11 spurred so much fear, probably protesting it should have happened long ago. I wish I had renewed my passport that’s for sure, with the government layoffs getting one now seems like a true PIA
this is getting pretty scary. It took me forever to get a real id. They even looked askance at my birth certificate. I heard from Rachel Maddow that the guy in charge of the FAA is a tv personality that Trump likes, with no experience or knowledge of flight science.
Yes. I have my real ID. Waited until my renewal date. Don’t see the point either.
Totally agree with you; fix something that is a real danger-air traffic control. “Personally, I’d rather see the FAA hire more air traffic controllers and fix their outdated technology instead of DHS collecting data on its citizens and having more teams of ICE agents roaming airports.”
Amen to everything you wrote, Dale. I do have a Real ID and I remember the hassle involved. I questioned the whole thing (still do) but , in the absence of a bigger protest, I let it go and simply complied. I wanted to be able to travel and this was part of the deal. Now I see that I potentially set a precedent. There are SO many situations now about which I want to protest and it all feels like too much. BUT, I also know that is what tRump and his cohorts want. They want the people to be afraid, they want compliance on all their greedy and often unconstitutional moves. So, I write emails, I back polticial candidates that I think will stop the madness, I go to the protests. I not only wait for the tide to change. I try to make it change.
BTW, I have not traveled much in the last couple of years. Stories like yours are everywhere right now. I don't have the patience (or, frankly, the money) for travel right now. I doubt this will change anytime soon.
Thanks for your thoughtful and informative post.
Does Sebastopol really spend half of its budget on law enforcement (per the claim by one of the other commenters here?)
I received my Real ID (CA DMV 2018) when it became clear there was no alternative alternative if I wished to travel. It was difficult to get even then. All my utilities were paid via auto-pay. I had to go to utility comapnies to get USPS verification that I acually lived where I said I lived. I had to get an embossed birth certificate from the state where I said I was born. Then, after verification at two differed DMV locations, I had to wait in line for 90 minutes to pay and receive verification that my new ID would come to me by mail. I'm still not convinced this is at all necessary.
Dale, thank you for your article—always informative and interesting. I understand the Federal Government is encouraging air traffic controllers to work beyond their required retirement age of 56 and that Australia is luring controllers there offering better conditions. That leaves US controllers doing overtime in an already stressful position.
We have real ID’s and I’m surprised that you, Dale, don’t and further that you didn’t take into account this requirement which was all over the news I look at. Sure it can be abused but how is not participating a realistic protest….no one hears it and you have to adjust.
Thank you, Dale, for another informative article. Your first person story really brings home the impact of the RealID for travel.
I’m flying today - 7 May - and have not planned for extra time at the TSA pre-check, but have three forms of identification beyond my drivers license that qualify as RealIDs. Of course the real story here is how, surely, sooner rather than later state election officials are going to start requiring RealIDs to vote, etc. Ultimately, beyond the privacy issue the ACLU rightly brings up, this is another way for the GOP to keep “those other people” (read eligible voters they don’t want voting) from the rightfully exercising their right to vote.
Safe travels home and please keep sharing these stories with us! 🙏
Dale, I appreciate this personal account as you navigated between an emerging police state in DHS and ICE, and a disintegrating infrastructure in the FAA. Not to mention extreme weather events.
I was particularly struck by that last incident when a fellow passenger was ushered off to who knows where. I don’t want to be caught flat footed someday if I am that bystander or perhaps that passenger. Can you write something about what our options are in those moments? I want to be prepared, as I bet many of us do.
The book « Shock Doctrine « by Naomi Klein explores how the projection of constant fear is an effective tool of citizen control. In the last couple of years we have made multiple long visits to New Zealand and more recently to Singapore.
On our first visit we pondered why people smiled and gave eye contact walking along city streets; sitting at a table adjacent to another occupied, we would be acknowledged with a smile or Hi. What was going on we wondered? Eventually we decided the citizens were comfortable, and NOT afraid. Just going about life and not worrying about us as potentially bad people.
Republicans and associated fascist religions have kept us in fear. We « need » more « protection « ….
Sebastopol spends half the annual budget for police. And the US government spends vast money for weapons to « keep us safe ». No data supports this mythology.
Democrats have pandered to these same fear based mechanisms.
Other countries have made life more comfortable, and don’t live in constant fear.
The new id issues reflect our loss of civility. Bad is the new norm for « progress « supported by voters it seems to me.
Thanks for your essay.
I do not have a RealID. My passport has my deadname in it, with a note to "see page 26" which lists my real name as "also known as". I tried to get a reaID, twice, and was told both times that a ReadID driver's liscense would have to have my deadname only. I have used my real name for 42 years.
Dale, I hope that you are having a fun vacation. 🌟And that you make it home to safe, beautiful Sebastopol, where our local Seb Times Paper (emails) sends great, positive, helpful, local information. Except for today, with complaints and false analogies and the intent to send stress.
WELL WISHES, Nina
I have a RealID, got it a few years ago, I think when a (now long past) deadlined loomed and I didnt want to be caught short, which would have been more of a PIA. I went to the DMV in Novato and hardly took any time. While I think it is a shame that 9/11 spurred so much fear, probably protesting it should have happened long ago. I wish I had renewed my passport that’s for sure, with the government layoffs getting one now seems like a true PIA
this is getting pretty scary. It took me forever to get a real id. They even looked askance at my birth certificate. I heard from Rachel Maddow that the guy in charge of the FAA is a tv personality that Trump likes, with no experience or knowledge of flight science.
Saddened to read about the ICE incident. Hope your return trip is not too challenging.
Yes. I have my real ID. Waited until my renewal date. Don’t see the point either.
Totally agree with you; fix something that is a real danger-air traffic control. “Personally, I’d rather see the FAA hire more air traffic controllers and fix their outdated technology instead of DHS collecting data on its citizens and having more teams of ICE agents roaming airports.”
Amen to everything you wrote, Dale. I do have a Real ID and I remember the hassle involved. I questioned the whole thing (still do) but , in the absence of a bigger protest, I let it go and simply complied. I wanted to be able to travel and this was part of the deal. Now I see that I potentially set a precedent. There are SO many situations now about which I want to protest and it all feels like too much. BUT, I also know that is what tRump and his cohorts want. They want the people to be afraid, they want compliance on all their greedy and often unconstitutional moves. So, I write emails, I back polticial candidates that I think will stop the madness, I go to the protests. I not only wait for the tide to change. I try to make it change.
BTW, I have not traveled much in the last couple of years. Stories like yours are everywhere right now. I don't have the patience (or, frankly, the money) for travel right now. I doubt this will change anytime soon.
Thanks for your thoughtful and informative post.
Does Sebastopol really spend half of its budget on law enforcement (per the claim by one of the other commenters here?)
I received my Real ID (CA DMV 2018) when it became clear there was no alternative alternative if I wished to travel. It was difficult to get even then. All my utilities were paid via auto-pay. I had to go to utility comapnies to get USPS verification that I acually lived where I said I lived. I had to get an embossed birth certificate from the state where I said I was born. Then, after verification at two differed DMV locations, I had to wait in line for 90 minutes to pay and receive verification that my new ID would come to me by mail. I'm still not convinced this is at all necessary.
OMG - How pathetic. Thanks for this.
Dale, thank you for your article—always informative and interesting. I understand the Federal Government is encouraging air traffic controllers to work beyond their required retirement age of 56 and that Australia is luring controllers there offering better conditions. That leaves US controllers doing overtime in an already stressful position.
We have real ID’s and I’m surprised that you, Dale, don’t and further that you didn’t take into account this requirement which was all over the news I look at. Sure it can be abused but how is not participating a realistic protest….no one hears it and you have to adjust.