[rhaway84773]

> “The day would not be far off,” wrote cybersecurity and surveillance expert Jim Harper, a former congressional committee counsel and senior fellow at the Cato Institute, “when a national ID is required for picking up prescriptions, purchasing guns and ammunition, paying by credit card, booking air travel, and reserving hotel stays, to name just a few types of transactions the federal government might regulate.” Again: That may be normal in some societies, but it cuts sharply against the grain in ours.

I’m not sure I fully understand the argument here. This is normal in US society. I cannot pickup prescriptions, travel, stay in a hotel, etc without a legitimate ID.

The argument appears to be that an ID issues by a state government is ok, but if it’s issued by the federal government that’s somehow, philosophically an overreach of power.

There are very good arguments against RealID. But the argument that it’s somehow fundamentally any different from what the US does today does not seem right at all.

[yial]

I have never been asked for an ID to pick up prescriptions. Name, date of birth, and once address. But never an ID.

I’ve traveled across the US without having to show an ID for anything.

I have usually needed to show an ID to stay at a hotel, but not an Airbnb(or did I have to upload it at some point? I can’t remember now), or some rental condos. (Diamond for example doesn’t always ask for one).

That said, I agree with your second point.

[hacym]

Certain OTC and prescription drugs definitely require an ID. Think coffee syrups and potent pain meds.

[AnimalMuppet]

It's not just a question of controlled medicines. There's also the question of insurance fraud. Some pharmacies (or insurance companies?) want to make sure that, if the J. Doe's insurance is paying for it, it's actually going to J. Doe.

[landemva]

That apparently depends on pharmacy, as I had a friend pick up pain meds for me after a surgery.

[Auracle]

It depends on if they’re scheduled medications, and at what level. You’re not picking up either my testosterone or stimulant prescriptions without an ID.

That’s in Minnesota at least, and I’m guessing they’re state level laws.

[tadfisher]

They must be, because ID is not required for scheduled medications in Oregon.

[whoosh3]

Pseudoephedrine, many ADHD medications and some muscle relaxants require ID.

[OmahaBoy69]

You got me curious as to which states require ID to pick up prescription narcotics as I've never heard of this living in Illinois and Colorado. Turns out each state has its own set of unique and sometimes bizarre rules:

https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/docs/menu-pdil.pdf

[yial]

That depends on stat, I suppose.

In my state, none of those require ID if a prescription.

Pseudoephedrine does if purchased without a prescription.

[tadfisher]

...in your state. This is not a federal requirement.

[yial]

Yes, I believe you’re agreeing with me? As the person I’m replying to made it sound like it was a blanket need to show ID.

[_-david-_]

>The argument appears to be that an ID issues by a state government is ok, but if it’s issued by the federal government that’s somehow, philosophically an overreach of power.

That is easy. The federal government is only allowed to do what is granted to it in the Constitution (enumerated powers). IDs are never mentioned so the federal government doesn't have the authority.

[Rebelgecko]

I think this is already the case (at least in California) - I ended up biting the bullet so to speak and getting a realid because otherwise I'd need to bring my passport with me on every trip to buy ammunition (since unreal drivers licenses aren't acceptable any more)