Another Question Of States? Rights?

[HARDCORE]

Some 146 years ago, the individual states erupted over, what they saw as, the ?Federal Government?s Attempts To Seize Absolute Power!? They perceived the seizure of certain powers and rights as being unjust (?) - powers that they felt had been reserved for them alone. And this, along with slavery, became a flash point to the American Civil War!

?It was an historic time that, when coupled with other national sore points, led us to four bloody years of civil strife!?

The immortal words of Abraham Lincoln?s Gettysburg Address (19 November, 1863) would soon ring forth eternally, and add a solemn and lasting validity to many a portion of that dramatic speech!

?Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure!?

For the last century and a half, although sometimes strained, we have managed to pull together - to give and take through war and peace, through thick and thin, and by doing so survive the many regional tribulations and disagreements that have surfaced every so often within our mighty nation. One thing, however, has always remained a constant [or a Fly In The Ointment of State if you prefer] - "Where Do Federal Powers End, and Those of the States Begin?"

The article below, although not critical to national unity, certainly echoes the fact that in some directions- ?Things Never Seem To Change!?

The point in contention here [A National Driver's License] could remove needed revenue from the individual states and dissolve yet another state-held power in the process? Not to mention, of course, the fear among ?SOME? of again restricting and eliminating yet another function of the individual states, and surrendering it too, along with a danger of alien misuse, to the federal government, or so some within these states may logically fear?

Of course, this current revolt over a ?National Driver?s License? did not begin in South Carolina, but rather in Maine, some 1150 miles to the north! And again, akin to the stance taken by Thomas Jefferson and other gallant Federal Power Advocates, "State?s Rights often finish a distant second to Federal mandate!" Could this be yet another ?State By State Tug of War? in an eternal battle for ultimate power? Or will this too, peacefully resolve itself (as is our way) through the courts and through the next national elections - you be the judge?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070204/ap_on_re_us/real_id

States challenge nat'l driver's license

By LESLIE MILLER, Associated Press

A revolt against a national driver's license, begun in Maine last month, is quickly spreading to other states.

The Maine Legislature on Jan. 26 overwhelmingly passed a resolution objecting to the Real ID Act of 2005. The federal law sets a national standard for driver's licenses and requires states to link their record-keeping systems to national databases.
Within a week of Maine's action, lawmakers in Georgia, Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, Vermont and Washington state also balked at Real ID. They are expected soon to pass laws or adopt resolutions declining to participate in the federal identification network.

"It's the whole privacy thing," said Matt Sundeen, a transportation analyst for the National Conference of State Legislatures. "A lot of legislators are concerned about privacy issues and the cost. It's an estimated $11 billion implementation cost."

The law's supporters say it is needed to prevent terrorists and illegal immigrants from getting fake identification cards.
States will have to comply by May 2008. If they do not, driver's licenses that fall short of Real ID's standards cannot be used to board an airplane or enter a federal building or open some bank accounts.

About a dozen states have active legislation against Real ID, including Arizona, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming.

Missouri state Rep. James Guest, a Republican, formed a coalition of lawmakers from 34 states to file bills that oppose or protest Real ID.

Though most states oppose the law, some such as Indiana and Maryland are looking to comply with Real ID, Sundeen said.

The issue may be moot for states if Congress takes action.