redblueamerica.com

Over at the home page, I'm about to put up a topic about the continuing controversy over Real ID, which would standardize how states issue drivers licenses -- an attempt to increase, among other things, airline security.

It's a big debate. Conservatives argue for the increased security; the ACLU and others on the left argue that it's akin to a national identification program that will end up infringing even more on the civil liberties of Americans.

What we're not really getting into on the home page, but what's worth noting, is this: Opposition from people who believe that Real ID is, literally, the work of the devil.

Seriously.

The explanation starts with this:

Revelation 13:16-18: And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

A standardized driver's license, obviously, is not mark on your right hand or forehead. But a lot of people -- not too different from all the millions of people who bought the "Left Behind" series fictionalizing some Christian expecttations about the "end times -- think such a card, at the very least, would be the beginning of such a process.

Don't believe me?

Look here.

Or here.

Or take a look at this oddly compelling guy.

This doesn't represent the broad mainstream of Christian thought -- it's limited to a narrow band of apocalyptic obsessives. These folks have had similar worries about Social Security numbers and (as Ben points out to me) Universal Product Codes.

It's probably not a big enough group of people to affect the debate significantly. But it's still interesting.