Watchman Privacy 11 - Interview with Barry Reid: The Paper Trip and New Identities
Aug 20, 2021
Barry Reid, privacy author and founder of Eden Press, shares insights from his life dedicated to identity and freedom. He details the inspiration behind his book, The Paper Trip, explaining how it aided draft-age men in evading conscription during the Vietnam War. Reid discusses legal identity changes, the privacy mindset, and the challenges faced by former inmates. He emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurship for personal liberation and critiques the pervasive influence of Big Tech and social media.
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Origin Of The Paper Trip
- Barry Reid started The Paper Trip in 1969 to help men avoid the Vietnam draft and later expanded it into a long-running privacy business.
- He published a 24-page booklet that became a classic and grew into Eden Press over decades.
Three Elements To Change
- Change three identity elements to disappear: name, birthdate, and a tax/SSN alternative.
- Use legal avenues like name changes or tax ID numbers and avoid impersonation or fraud.
How To Handle Real ID Requirements
- Follow updated procedures in Paper Trip 4 to obtain Real ID and adapt to post‑9/11 rules.
- Use the book's state-by-state resources to get acceptable identity documents without breaking the law.
