Date: Wed, 06 Mar 2002 09:52:45 -0500
From: Steve Smith <sgs at aginc.net>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: The way to San Jose
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

"Strong, Lee" wrote:

>         Why do most Americans suffer the indignities of offering "papers,
> please" to uniformed functionaries?  Because most Americans see that process
> as a reasonable attempt to prevent bombs and bombers from boarding airplanes
> with them.  The safety of the populace is the supreme interest of the state.

Because most Americans have never had the experience of being hauled off
to detention for not having the "right" papers.

Showing ID is not what keeps people from getting on airplanes with guns
or bombs.  Metal detectors, X ray machines and chemical sniffers do
that.  More power to 'em.  However, making people stand in a line for
two hours makes folks *think* you're accomplishing something, whether
you are or not.

In Europe, people really know what "papers, please" means.  They don't
like it.

In Britain, for example, there is no requirement that you carry your
driver's license with you in the car.  If you're stopped by the cops,
you will have to go to a police station and show them you license within
(I think) a week.  Every proposal to require the carrying of ID at *any*
time in Britain has been shouted down rather thoroughly.

Besides, Keith was complaining about having to show Government ID to get
on a *train*.  Useless.

--
Steve Smith                                           sgs at aginc.net
Agincourt Computing                            http://www.aginc.net
"Truth is stranger than fiction because fiction has to make sense."