Well, it appears that I need to have my passport renewed. I had one for my trip in 1995 to see my mother's cousins in France. It has since expired. Why do I need it renewed?

Am I planning a trip back to France, or need one to visit my father's kin in Canada?

No! I need it to fly to Atlanta to see my son's family. Why?

Because Gov. John Baldacci and the Maine Legislature does not want the Real ID operator's license mandated by Homeland Security.

After May 11, Maine licenses will not be accepted as a secure ID for traveling in the other states.

Could it be because more than 6,000 Maine licenses have been issued to illegal immigrants with no residence in Maine, therefore lending our current Maine license useless as a secure proof of identification?

Yes, instead of following the common sense course of getting with the program, the governor and lawmakers will force us to pay hundreds of dollars to get a federal passport while we could use something as simple as a driver's license like they do in the other 44 states.

Sounds like another partisan (liberal) view that what the federal government believes is a security matter is looked upon as another intrusion into our private lives.

I got a surprise for them: We live in a society that wants to maintain the common good and not live by the whims of a few politicians.

Jean F. Pouliot

Oakland