You Got ID To Go With That Boarding Pass?
I was reading ’slight paranoia’ this morning and was reminded again that you can legally board a commercially aircraft without showing ID. Personally, I think that is wrong; the airport authorities and airlines should have every right to know who is using their facilities and boarding their planes. And so what if they know who I am, where I was going and when? And even if they report all that to the government, big deal. Though perhaps I don’t care because I’m not a criminal and have no intent of doing anything wrong. But even so, can someone please explain how my privacy is invaded by asking to see my ID? ‘Cause I just don’t get it.
Want to rent a car? You’ll need ID for that. Want to pick up a package from a courier? You need ID for that. In fact you need ID for a lot of things. It’s the way life is. Do I feel my privacy is invaded? No, not in the least.
But the more I think about it, the more I feel that by insisting that people be able to maintain their so called privacy, the more the safety of everyone else is compromised. So if some traveler feels slighted because they have to show ID but the overall result is greater safety for all, then I choose the good of the many over the feelings of the few.
Tue, 28 Nov 2006 16:26 Posted in General
