Posted on 02/27/2005 7:13:06 AM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at pittsburghpostgazette.com ...
I think what you are missing is that the 'security' that is being shown is just that, a show. How many blonde American five year olds and 80 year old grannies and MOH winners are terrorists? Did I mention the good looking ladies that are built oh so nicely that get felt up? They are not the problem, but they are the ones getting the scrutiny at the airports while it's not considered PC to stop and frisk every middle eastern looking man aged 25 to 44 who has been the freaking problem.
It's a security show and you are buying it.
I was just in DC and watched the biggest security farce in my life. They had a few hundred overpaid and underqualified 'police' in one building checking IDs when you entered. On my 3rd entry into the building I told them that I had no ID and I still got in. Worse yet, the drive in checkpoints were less than useless. On one previous occassion, I have had my firearm with me and I was never searched or scanned.
It's a joke, son. But some of us aren't laughing cuz it just ain't funny. It's just expensive and intrusive and does nothing other than make sheep like you FEEL safe.
You are perfectly free to start your own airline and hop aboard your own private jet all you want to.
I suggest they double their fares.This would do many things.It would clear out the airports so that ALL baggage and passsengers could be screened.It would give them the funds to do this.It might spur the use of rails,or the development of modern rails.
The cost of a coast to coast trip is cheaper now than it was 35 years ago.This at a time when fuel costs and labor costs are higher than ever.
The government should only maintain customs facilities at international airports.They should only deal with international passengers.
IMHO, photo ID needs to be presented in order to VOTE!
These people who think their rights overide everyone else's right can just walk.
Drug smugglers use old ladies and baby's diapers to carry their contraband for them. If we are to ignore caucasians in our WOT, then Jose Padilla, Richard Reid, and John Walker Lindh would get free passes.
Now THAT was well said. Thank you.
See post # 156
Kafkaland? Ask the marines...specifically the LT.
Quite frustrating isn't it? That someone, who is apparently left leaning, would bring up an issue about rights that conservatives should be demanding daily.
I didn't know our country has secret laws that you are not permitted to read.
I didn't know that our country, to maintain its secret laws, drops some criminal prosecutions just so those laws can't be challenged in court.
In essence, the government is saying if you are in position to challenge these laws, the government won't enforce them but if you don't challenge them, you have to live by them.
Thus, we have laws that favor criminals.
Here we have a conundrum of immense though quiet implications for the current and future state of personal security and individual privacy so often given lip service while the predators lick their lips over their already finished meal.
The author draws a picture of an unlikely modern Quixote tilting at the largest windmill of them all, and we stand upwind of him for fear the fallout will land on us.
Being blind has it blessings...
The 9/11 hijackers had government issued IDs. Were those flights any safer because everyone showed ID? Just curious.
Maybe we could coin a term--a "saf." It's a measure of safety. "Well, the plane did fly into a building, but don't worry, everyone on board had at least a 9 'saf' level."
So you believe you have a right to over ride the airline's personal property rights? It's their planes and they have a right to say who does and who does not fly in them.
It might be better if you read the whole article before weighing in, the man has epilepsy which precludes the issuance of a driver's license based on the state's judgement of public safety.
Whatever happened to that character?
I would guess his reasons are apolitic at least as far as parties go since the underlying law dates back to 1974.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.