Yet Another Reason I’ll Never Board an Airplane
By jimrob | January 11, 2008
The American Civil Liberties Union has fiercely objected to the effort, particularly the sharing of personal data among government agencies. The DHS and other officials say the only way to make sure an ID is safe is to check it against secure government data; critics like the ACLU say that creates a system that is more likely to be infiltrated and have its personal data pilfered.
In its written objection to the law, the ACLU claims REAL ID amounts to the “first-ever national identity card system,” which “would irreparably damage the fabric of American life.”
The Sept. 11 attacks were the main motivation for the changes.
The hijacker-pilot who flew into the Pentagon, Hani Hanjour, had a total of four driver’s licenses and ID cards from three states. The DHS, which was created in response to the attacks, has created a slogan for REAL ID: “One driver, one license.”
By 2014, anyone seeking to board an airplane or enter a federal building would have to present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, with the notable exception of those more than 50 years old, Homeland Security officials said.
People often ask me why I’m so vehement about never flying. There are many reasons. First and foremost I don’t feel like volunteering to have myself treated like a cow at a sale barn, being shuffled from chute to chute until I’ve finally reached the trailer that’ll take me home.
Second, I don’t want to fly. I don’t like being in large groups of people, which would be a requirement of flying. I’m not afraid of people, I just don’t like being around them. Even more so when they’re all in a bad mood from being treated like cattle.
Third, I will NOT subject myself to the massive privacy invasions required to board an airplane. These days you have to do everything but provide a sperm sample to board an aircraft. Why would I pay nearly $400 to stand in line for five hours and fly for two, followed by a two hour time period of leaving the airport, when I could just drive there or take a train in a comparable amount of time? Plus I can use a cell phone and mp3 player in the car, along with not having to tell the government the last time I brushed my teeth.
Topics: "Privacy" |
2 Responses to “Yet Another Reason I’ll Never Board an Airplane”
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January 11th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Of course, all of this is pointless given the fact that this country refuses to secure its borders.
January 12th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
But Steve, Hillary says all women are legal. I don’t know what the heck she meant, but I’m sure securing the borders isn’t part of it.
Besides - if we don’t let all these hard-working illegal immigrants (who comprise 30% of our prison population and cost us $33Bil annually), we’ll have to spend a little more on our hamburger and landscaping fees.