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John Gilmore's Search for the Mandatory ID Law

Posted by Zonk on from the when-making-things-easy-isn't-a-good-idea dept.

powerline22 writes "John Gilmore, the millionare who cofounded the EFF, has been prohibited from travelling because he refused to show an ID while boarding an airplane. He's been under this self-imposed ban since 2002. From the article: "The gate agent asked for his ID. Gilmore asked her why. It is the law, she said. Gilmore asked to see the law. Nobody could produce a copy. To date, nobody has. The regulation that mandates ID at airports is 'Sensitive Security Information.' The law, as it turns out, is unavailable for inspection. What started out as a weekend trip to Washington became a crawl through the courts in search of an answer to Gilmore's question: Why?"

3 of 1,568 comments (clear)

  1. Catch-22 by handy_vandal · · Score: 0, Redundant
    The law, as it turns out, is unavailable for inspection.

    This reminds me, somehow, of Catch-22:
    There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle.

    "That's some catch, that Catch-22," he observed.

    "It's the best there is," Doc Daneeka agreed.
    Then again, a law so secret that I can't know the law ... that's the Star Chamber all over again.

    "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss ...."

    -kgj
    --
    -kgj
  2. Re:Bullet, meet foot. Foot, this is bullet. by Anonymous+Brave+Guy · · Score: 0, Redundant

    You are about the millionth person to reply with that argument, which I have already addressed in another post. Please read other replies and follow-ups before posting redundantly. Thanks.

    --
    If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
  3. Re:What a dick. by rzebram · · Score: 0, Redundant
    ...go build a shack in the woods and read Ayn Rand to the squirrels.
    I tried, but all those damn squirrels did was throw nuts at me.