7.31You would think that with government growing bigger than ever before, governmental representatives would be nicer, more efficient and exude a tone of gratitude to the taxpayers.  Not so.

Several weeks ago, my son went to the license bureau to get his driver license renewed.  They told him another young man, born on the same date with a similar name, was convicted in San Diego for driving under the influence.  As a result, they refused to renew my son’s driver license.

I learned quite a bit about just how “big brother” can end up being “big bully”.  A federal law requires all states to import information into a national database where Missouri is required to check before renewing licenses.  However, California includes a bare amount of information to incriminate a wide group of people, but is not specific enough to vindicate the innocent.  They use no photo, finger prints, no middle name, a Social Security number or a driver license number.  All that goes onto this list is the first four characters of the first and last name with a birth date. Continue reading