Kick em while they're down!
This month we successfully killed the REAL ID and National ID provisions in the immigration bills, but we shouldn't stop now. We saw the power we have as people who oppose REAL ID and we saw we certainly aren't alone. In fact, the ACLU said the immigration bill probably failed because of the REAL ID provisions. So let's take this opportunity, while we're on top, to deal one final blow to this defective legislation. Please take the time to call your representatives and tell them to repeal REAL ID. Be firm, remind them they are working for us. We shut down the congressional phone system during the immigration bill, let's do it again! As always, be polite but if this is an issue that will affect your vote next year tell them so. What ever you do: Tell them to repeal REAL ID NOW and to vote no to any legislation that would implement it or "fixed" versions of it.
1. Visit these links to send automated letters to your representatives:
https://secure.eff.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=275
http://action.downsizedc.org/wyc.php?cid=30
2. Call your representatives
If you don't have their numbers on speed dial (you should!), then call the congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121 and asked to be connected to your representatives. You can also find a listing at http://www.opencongress.org/people/representatives and http://www.opencongress.org/people/senators
Here are some talking points:
A. REAL ID is an invasion of privacy. We have already seen this administration abuse its powers when it came to spying on people, so do we really want to give them another large database to play with? The bill has been slammed by groups like the ACLU because of its privacy implications.
B. It would expand government control. We already have ways to track down people and REAL ID won't help this but it will help increase our budget by billions and the cost to the American people is even greater. There is no such thing as a completely secure computer and eventually the databases where the REAL ID information is located will get cracked and that personal information will get stolen which will lead to massive amounts of identity theft.
C. Surveys have shown that the majority of Americans do not trust REAL ID and hundreds if not thousands of cities, counties, states, and organizations have passed resolutions in opposition to REAL ID.
3. Get Local
Find out what local resolutions or actions are taking place by going to http://www.realnightmare.org/actioncenter/15/ (ACLU). If there's something going on, contact your local representatives and do the same thing you did for your members of the house.
4. Tell your friends
We rarely ever ask you to do this, but on this issue it is critical. There are lots of high-up government officials pushing for REAL ID as well as the private companies that will be mishandling your information. We have been fighting this bill since the start but we need more force. This is a text-only email so you can just forward it on or copy and paste.
Thanks for DownsizeDC for providing us with the brute force many of our recent victories have required. They have single-handedly done more for us than any other political group, so please take some time to check out their website http://www.downsizedc.org and donate a few dollars. It costs 5000 a month for them to operate at the minimal level so please throw some money their way as they are as integral to the victories we have at binaryfreedom as we are.
Keep Fighting,
Comrade Ringo Kamens
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