Suspected Terrorist [Multimillionaire sues U.S. government over right to fly anonymously]

Reason Magazine ^ | August/September 2003 | Brian Doherty

[Servant of the Nine]

The most likely outcome will be airlines declaring that, even absent any federal regulation, it's their policy that everyone shows a government-issued ID before getting on a plane. If that happens, Gilmore is prepared to sue the airlines.

I'm confused. How can a Libertarian seriously argue that a company does not have the right to set any requirements it wishes to it's service. No one is forced to fly.

So9

[breakem]

bumpable

[Mulder]

I'm confused. How can a Libertarian seriously argue that a company does not have the right to set any requirements it wishes to it's service.

Saying that the airlines is a "private company" is a farce.

The are subsidized, legislated, regulated, and dominated by the federal government.

You can guarantee that if someone started an airline that didn't require ID's and allowed folks to fly armed, the feds would shut them down overnight and throw the owners in jail.

[observer5]

If you give an idiot a lot of money... he becomes an Idiot with a lot of money!

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Mulder]

If you give an idiot a lot of money... he becomes an Idiot with a lot of money!

Yeah.. what an idiot for wanting a little privacy and respect.

I wonder how many posts it will take before someone suggests that he should be arrested or tossed out of airplane at 30,000 feet. So-called "conservatives" suggested both on a thread about this guy about a month ago.

[rageaholic]

He's a clown with clown socks fighiting for a clown cause.

[doug from upland]

A multimillionaire doesn't fly on his own jet??? Why would he put up with crowds and others' schedules?

[Mulder]

He's a clown with clown socks fighiting for a clown cause.

If you're happy and you know it, clank your chains.

[TomB]

If you're happy and you know it, clank your chains.

What "chains", specifically, are you whining about?

[Mulder]

What "chains", specifically, are you whining about?

LOL! If you have to ask, you'll have a hard time understanding.

Try talking to some folks who remember when this was a much more Free country some 40 or 50 years ago.

[TomB]

LOL! If you have to ask, you'll have a hard time understanding.

No, if you can tell me what these "chains" are, I'll have no problem understanding.

Try talking to some folks who remember when this was a much more Free country some 40 or 50 years ago.

In what way?

[cowtowney]

So-called Conservatives on FreeRepublic get their panties in a wad if a Libertarian gets out of line.

[jaz.357]

I agree with you Doug. He should just buy a jet. Or an airline.

[Roscoe]

How can a Libertarian seriously argue that a company does not have the right to set any requirements it wishes to it's service.

Through an unlimited ability to rationalize. For example, see post #4.

[Mulder]

No, if you can tell me what these "chains" are, I'll have no problem understanding.

Tax rates; gun laws; seizure laws; seatbelt, insurance, DUI, and drug checkpoints; militarization of the police; warantless searches at airports; environmental regulations, etc....

I could go on and on all day. But the fact remains that this country probably has at least 10, if not 100, times as many laws today as 40 years ago. Those who believe this is a "Free country" are full of it.

[Mulder]

I work in the industry and if I saw ANYONE wearing a "suspected terrorist" button, they would certainly not board the aircraft.

Why? They're certainly being treated like "suspected terrorists".

Assholes like that we can do without

Considering the fact that most airlines are in serious financial trouble, you might want to reconsider that.

[TomB]

I could go on and on all day. But the fact remains that this country probably has at least 10, if not 100, times as many laws today as 40 years ago. Those who believe this is a "Free country" are full of it.

Go to a REAL totalitarian country and tell them that we aren't free. The fact of the matter is that none of those things make me less "free". Some of these laws are cumbersome, and some are frankly unconstitutional. But we've had those issues to deal with since the founding of the country.

To call them "chains" is a misstatement of biblical proportions.