Over the past eight years I've wondered where the militia/NRA types went who thought the federal government was going to come to their door back in the `90's and confiscate their guns, leaving them to grovel at the feet of Dictator Clinton. Once "small government" George Bush, Jr. came to power either their media coverage shrunk or they figured their huntin' rifles and AK-47's were safe from ATF hands with a Republican in charge and they got quiet, it seems.

So I wonder what they think about this news item? Dateline January 17, 2008, Kennesaw, GA, from the North Cobb Neighbor:

Barr Gets Fired Up at KSU

The United States may soon have a national ID card. The government is allowed to listen to personal phone calls without a warrant.

These are the issues that get former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr fired up -- and this spring, some KSU graduate students will experience that fervor as they take Barr's class on privacy at Kennesaw State University.

"I've developed a strong concern for the erosion of privacy in our country over recent years. I'm very concerned, particularly since 9/11, at the number of ways and extents to which the government -- at all levels, particularly the federal government -- has diminished the privacy of our citizens," Barr said.

On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security unveiled new regulations for the Real ID Act of 2005, which Barr said called for "the creation of what is, in essence, a national ID card.

"Do we want to live in a society where everybody has essentially a barcode stamped on their foreheads?"

The Real ID may be a barcode, but it's only a composite of information that's already on record. The only difference is instead of a Social Security Card, a driver's license, passport, etc., all of the information would be on one card. Of course that also means when Hector whips your ass in a dark alley he'll have all of your info to get his new life started in America.

So this information is already on record. Additionally, as I've pointed out before, GPS systems in new cars track your movements. TiVO has a record of every television show you watch and record. Google saves every search you do by your IP number, so your interests are being tracked. And on MySpace you have voluntarily made public information that you would've only given up in an interrogation room previously: your age, your location, who your friends are, your interests, turn-ons and turn-offs, and what you wore to the office Halloween party.

All of this has come about since the election and re-election of the "small government," "right to privacy," "get the government out of our personal lives" Republicans.

Never fear, we're all documented. All that's left now is to keep our heads down and not do stupid things to attract unwanted attention, like write blog entries about the national ID card.

By the way, if anyone in authority is reading, this blog is only for entertainment purposes. Of course I endorse a national ID card! Who wouldn't?