Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Real ID? Really?

Four years after 9/11 (really...it took four years?), Congress passed a law to make State Drivers Licenses compliant as a means of uniform and accepted identification on flights and border crossings. Yeah...2005.

Never mind that it is a piece of cake for High School kids to get fake IDs...this was gonna make us safer?

It was then 2013 (yes, eight years later) when we were told that our Drivers Licenses would need to be compliant within the year. Which was delayed several times because we were apparently not ready. Oh yeah...and then COVID happened (whatever).

Now, we all must have a Real ID by next May. Really?

And, 17 years later, how has all this kept us safer? All to get a star on our license?

This is why I grit my teeth every time I write a check to the government. I mean, really...WTF?

Forbes and Rockford

I've never understood why Forbes believes it makes business sense to call out communities as "miserable." How in the world does that advance commerce and community growth?

Rockford IL was one of those towns Forbes targeted a decade ago. Of course, Rockford shot back with an incredible video.

But today, Forbes celebrates Rockford (without noting that they once slammed them). I'm a guy that holds grudges...but the Rockford Area CVB's John Groh takes the lemons and makes lemonade by saying, "An article like this helps us see the broader theme."

True dat, brother. Rockford rocks.