Papers, Please! Part 2
Oh, it just never ends!
Back in September of last year, I commented on internal “smart-card” passports. Well, there are still issues with internal documentation.
The first is an interesting case about the right to refuse to give identification. This WiredNews story talks about a man in rural Nevada who refused to give a police officer his identification, based on the fact that he had not committed a crime and was jailed for “impeding an officer”. He was released and all charges were dropped, except for the $250 fine for impeding an officer. The case is going all the way to the Supreme Court. Fascinating.
The second story, also on WiredNews, is about an ordinance being voted on in San Franciso that, basically, protects citizens from the prying eyes of the Patriot Act. I doubt it will pass, much less stand up in court, but it’s interesting that people are trying to do something about what they percieve as an injustice.
The link between these two is the right to privacy. Some folks would argue that we’re not garanteed that right in the Constituition, but the majority of us think we are. I feel that my privacy is protected by the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. What about you? What will you do when the fight comes to your door?
