A while back ago a privacy activicst, John Gilmore, filed suit against the U.S. Government for this federal requirement to show identification before being allowed to board a plane. That law was passed before the Bush administration.

The government responded that no such law exists, and eventually conceded that it indeed does exist but cannot be disclosed publicly. Now they say it cannot be challenged or seen in full because it is a law enforcement technique, not a law.

Simpich dismissed that argument as absurd doublespeak.

“Drugs are against the law,” Simpich said. “So blowing through your house to look for drugs is a law enforcement technique that you can’t challenge, either.”

Granted, I believe the airlines should be able to require ID before boarding their aircraft if they so desired. That’s their property, why should they be forced to allow anonymous passengers? However, the government has no authority to do so!

As far as I know, it’s perfectly legal to travel within the US without any need for identification. The government now requires ID to board a plane to travel domestically? And to top it off, they won’t tell us why because revealing it would be a grave injustice to national security…

National security is about citizens feeling safe within their borders. Knowing there are secret laws governing you, do you feel safer?