Real ID... again...

The idea that was the 9/11 Commission's key recommendation for protecting American lives apparently will have another use under the proposed immigration reform bill: protecting American jobs. For if the bill passes, you'll need Real ID to get a job.

What else could Real ID be used for? Protecting American health? Protecting American social diversity? Controlling American carbon emissions? The list seems endless.

There is time to act, but not much. Go here.

Here's what I faxed to my senators:

I'm writing to express my opposition to force implementation of Real ID, despite widespread opposition, under the guise of "immigration reform." Real ID is misguided, a knee-jerk attempt to grandstand in the face of a serious threat. No one who lives in the real world could possibly think that adoption of a national ID is anything less than a resounding double victory for Al-Qaeda and its ilk, allowing ever more intrusive government surveillance - and, concomitantly, control - of the lives of citizens while doing little to thwart terrorism.

I strongly urge you to support the Baucus-Tester and Grassley-Baucus amendments to the immigration bill, and to vigorously oppose any further efforts to model our country after numerous repressive regimes around the world. The voters are watching closely.

I'm sure this will not be the last attempt to shove Real ID down our throats, unless this bill passes without the amendments I mention.

Cheers...

MT checkpoint...

One of the other interpreters supporting the sim turned me on to YAGB (Yet Another Google Beta): Translate.

Check it out:

Original: Качество проданных по настоящему контракту чистопородных племенных нетелей Айрширской породы должно соответствовать показателям, указанным в приложениях. Качество племенных животных подтверждается родословной, спецификациями, выдаваемыми Продавцом, причем племенные свидетельства составляются по трем поколениям предков, и ветеринарным сертификатом выдаваемым Продавцом.

Google translation: Quality sold under this contract pure tribal veal Ayrshirskoy rock must comply listed in the annex. The quality of breeding stock is confirmed ancestry, specifications issued by the Seller, with tribal certificates issued by the three generations of ancestors, and veterinary certificate issued by the Seller.

My translation: The quality of the purebred pedigreed Ayrshire heifers sold under this contract shall conform to the criteria set forth in the attachments. The quality of the pedigreed animals shall be confirmed by a genealogy and by schedules provided by the Seller, with pedigree certificates showing three generations of ancestors, and by a veterinary certificate conveyed by the Seller.

Okay, so it's not perfect, and there's a certain delight one can take in the phrase "tribal certificates issued by the three generations of ancestors," but some other sentences come across very well.

Some languages, too (source).

Original: Il n’est pas xénophobe. Il n’est pas fermé. Il est partisan de ce que Karl Popper appelait la « société ouverte » et défend l’importance de ce que Friedrich Hayek appelait l’« ordre spontané ». Il défend la liberté d’entreprendre et de passer contrat, ainsi que l’ensemble des libertés individuelles. Il considère que tous les droits dignes de ce nom sont fondés sur les droits de propriété ou reconductibles à eux. Et cela en fait un « libéral classique » au sens que ce mot a outre-Atlantique.

Google translation: He is not xenophobe. He is not closed. He is in favour of what Karl Popper called the “open company” and defends the importance of what Friedrich Hayek called the “spontaneous order”. It defends freedom to undertake and sign contract, as well as the whole of the personal freedoms. It considers that all the rights worthy of this name are founded on the rights of ownership or renewable to them. And that makes of it a “traditional liberal” with the direction that this word has on the other side of the Atlantic.

Also not perfect, but certainly understandable.

Cheers...