Grounded: Millionaire John Gilmore stays close to home while making a point about privacy

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | Sunday, Feb. 27, 2005 | Dennis Roddy

[TheBlackFeather]

He's unable to travel because he refuses to present a government-approved ID

SAN FRANCISCO -- John Gilmore's splendid isolation began July 4, 2002, when, with defiance aforethought, he strolled to the Southwest Airlines counter at Oakland Airport and presented his ticket.

[KidGlock]

You mean he can't present a Sam's Club ID or library card for identification?

[George from New England]

bump

[corkoman]

well, I am glad SOMEBODY is pressing the issue for an up-or-down vote for whether we needs to show our papers for travel within the US.

[Leatherneck_MT]

I happen to agree with him.

From the looks of things on the article, it's the ONLY thing I agree with him on, but on this one, he is spot on.

[yer gonna put yer eye out]

Another sterling example of a seemingly intelligent person so caught up in himself, and his own rights, he has no room in his mind or heart to consider the safety of anyone else.

To people like this life is all about their PERSONAL rights....forget everyone else's rights.

The "educated-beyond-their-own-intelligence" crowd will make a national hero out of this short-sighted, selfish slug.

[From many - one.]

Airlines are not government entities. If they want you to stand on your head and do push-upin order to board, that's their right.

It probably makes their shareholder happy.

I also rather prefer riding on planes less likely to be attacked by terrorists.

[G.Mason]

Another Salmon swimming up stream to spawn.

While he was swimming in the Pacific, those rotten SOB's built a damn dam.

[Tench_Coxe]

Counting posts till the first one that says something akin to, " we're at war. Therefore, licking the boots of my master is fun. "

[Spktyr]

Turns out the guy doesn't drive.

So, basically, he's saying he's trapped in his home area because he's too stupid to get a car and a license for it (which does not require a government ID to get). Nice.

I agree with him about presenting ID to fly, but I understand the logic behind that, especially after 9/11. That said, flying is *not* a right, and there are many other means of transport across the country that do not require an ID. Buses, trains, private car, etc., etc.

[Copernicus]

George Orwell said it would happen and it has.

It will get really interesting when we enter Kafka territory. Or perhaps we are already there too.

Best regards,

[evolved_rage]

What a waste. Fighting a fly-speck minor issue when only about 5 or 6 CCWs are issued in SF county in any given year. He worries about tyrrany, what about his right to protect himself from being kidnapped or robbed by criminals or the gubmint. Typical 'Rat.

[reg45]

Mr. Gilmore is free to travel anywhere in the country, the only restriction is on air travel. He can travel by bus, train, automobile or even on foot. If he wants to go to Hawaii, he can always rent a rowboat.

[G.Mason]

"I happen to agree with him."

Didn't you have to wear dog tags in the Marines? ;)

[palmer]

The elegance of Gilmore's thinking is that knowing someone's ID does not prevent the person from committing a terrorist act. The 9/11 hijackers had driver's licenses. Knowing someone's identity, as Gilmore argues it, adds less to a security than it takes away from a traveler's protection from authority that might oppress simply because it can.

That's not very elegant, but I agree with the first part, requiring ID's adds nothing to security. As Schneier says, if the government has a list of bad guys, why are they waiting for them to show up at the airport?

[freebilly]

To people like this life is all about their PERSONAL rights....forget everyone else's rights.

His rights are your rights, bub. When someone like him with a strong libertarian streak has enough money to take on the bureaucrats everyone is the potential beneficiary.

Like him, I'd like to know what law demands that we show our ID at the airport. I stopped flying in 2002 after getting exasperated at SFO. Every 100 feet I was searched, patted down, asked for ID, made to take off my clothing, etc., apparently all because the airlines hadn't searched enough white males that day.

If the feds have a law requiring us to show our papers, maybe they should let us peasants know about it.

[Polybius]

well, I am glad SOMEBODY is pressing the issue for an up-or-down vote for whether we needs to show our papers for travel within the US.

What prevents him from crossing any U.S. state line he d@mn well pleases by automobile, train, motorcycle, boat, horse, foot or pogo stick without showing identification?

You do not have a Constitutional right to travel by air without showing that you are not an individual who may intend to kill every individual on your flight and maybe thousands more on the ground.

[palmer]

forget everyone else's rights.

You have the right to ask Gilmore for his ID? I didn't think so. If you are referring to your "right" to travel in simulated safety due to an ineffective government regulation, then no, you don't have that right either.

[Disambiguator]

"Anywhere is walking distance, if you have the time."

Steven Wright

[bdfromlv]

I dont know about califas rules but in kansas and missouri you need a social security card and original (with raised seal) birth certificate. to get your drivers licence.